Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines

EPA promulgated the Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines and Standards (40 CFR Part 429) during 1974-6 and amended the regulation in 1981. The regulation covers direct and indirect dischargers. The Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargersdirect dischargersA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans., and permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargersindirect dischargersA facility that discharges pollutants to a publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plant). (refer to Pretreatment Program).

On this page:

• What is the Timber Products Processing Industry?
• Pollutants and Subcategories
• Rulemaking History
• Additional Information

What is the Timber Products Processing Industry?

• sawmills
• millwork and finishing operations
• veneer and plywood plants
• wood preserving plants
• particleboard plants
• hardboard plants, and
• insulation board plants.

• 3211: Sawmills and Wood Preservation
• 3212: Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing
• 337: Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing

Note: The NAICS listing is provided as a guide and does not define the coverage of the Timber Products Processing category. For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 429.

Portions of 15 subcategories are subject to zero discharge requirements.

Regulation Subcategories

Rulemaking History

Minor Amendments

• Final Rule (July 30, 2004, 69 FR 45943)
  Modification to definition of "process wastewater"
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Final Rule (pdf) (207.8 KB, November 23, 1981, 46 FR 57286)
  Revision of NSPS applicability for Subpart E; error corrections

1981 Amendment

• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Final Rule (pdf) (3.8 MB, January 26, 1981, 46 FR 8260)
• Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Timber Products Processing Category (pdf) (22.31 MB, January 1981, 440/1-81/023)
  Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the 1981 final rule. Wood preserving, insulation board, and wet process hardboard sectors only.
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (4.93 MB, October 31, 1979, 44 FR 62810)

1976 Amendment

• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Final Rule (pdf) (1.2 MB, December 9, 1976, 41 FR 53930)
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (296.66 KB, June 2, 1975, 40 FR 23829)
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (486.8 KB, January 16, 1975, 40 FR 2834)
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (386.3 KB, April 18, 1974, 39 FR 13952)

1975 Amendment

• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Final Rule (pdf) (1.15 MB, January 16, 1975, 40 FR 2804)
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (1.91 MB, August 26, 1974, 39 FR 30892)

1974 Initial Rulemaking

• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Final Rule (pdf) (1.6 MB, April 18, 1974, 39 FR 13942)
• Development Document for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Plywood, Hardboard and Wood Preserving Segment of the Timber Products Processing Point Source Category (pdf) (12.34 MB, April 1974, 440/1-74/023a)
  Describes industry processes, pollutants generated, available control and treatment technologies, the technical basis for the final rule, and costs of the rule
• Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines - Proposed Rule (pdf) (1.95 MB, January 3, 1974, 39 FR 938)

Additional Information

For additional information regarding Timber Products Processing Effluent Guidelines, please contact Ahmar Siddiqui (siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov) or 202-566-1044.