US environmental regulators will now track lead smelter pollution they previously ignored

The US environmental regulators are proposing new rules to track hazardous air pollutants from secondary lead smelters that were not previously regulated. This means these facilities will now have to monitor and report emissions of specific toxic substances they could previously release without direct oversight.

For years, lead smelters have emitted certain hazardous air pollutants without specific federal limits or monitoring requirements. This proposal closes that gap, forcing facilities to account for a wider range of toxic releases. It means a more complete picture of air quality around these sites, and potentially tighter controls on what they can emit.