🧪New Significant Use Rules Impacting Chemical Business Operations
EPA is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use in the SNUR. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the conditions of that use for that chemical substance. In addition, the manufacture or processing for the significant new use may not commence until EPA has conducted a review of the required notification; made an appropriate determination regarding that notification; and taken such actions as required by that determination.
Learn More🌍EPA Proposes Delegation of NESHAP Authority to Oklahoma DEQ
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has submitted updated regulations for receiving delegation and approval of its program for the implementation and enforcement of certain National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for all sources, as provided for under previously approved delegation mechanisms. The updated State regulations incorporate by reference certain NESHAP promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as they existed through June 30, 2023. The EPA is proposing to approve ODEQ's requested delegation update. The proposed delegation of authority under this action applies to sources located in certain areas of Indian country as discussed herein.
Learn More🧪EPA Withdraws Proposed Rules on Significant New Uses for Chemicals
In the Federal Register of June 20, 2023, EPA proposed significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 18 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and a subsequent TSCA Order. EPA is withdrawing the proposed rules because the Agency withdrew the TSCA Order that was the basis of the rules on December 18, 2024.
Learn More🏠Restore Dust-Lead Hazard Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of November 12, 2024, that finalized several revisions to EPA's lead-based paint (LBP) regulations. Subsequent to publication, the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) informed the Agency that there were errors in the amendatory instructions that describe specific revisions for two sections of the regulation. In the Federal Register of December 16, 2024, EPA published a technical correction to the final rule that explained the errors and the corresponding technical corrections that the Agency believed would address the errors identified by the OFR. Unfortunately, that technical correction did not fix the amendatory instructions prior to the effective date of the final rule. As a result, when the final rule became effective on January 13, 2025, three subparagraphs of regulatory text were inadvertently deleted--a change to the post-abatement regulatory activities that EPA did not intend to make. This action corrects that error by restoring the inadvertently deleted text in the regulations.
Learn More♻️Revised Compliance Deadlines for Coke Oven Emission Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action on revisions to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Coke Oven Batteries (COB) source category and the Coke Ovens: Pushing, Quenching, and Battery Stacks (PQBS) source category by revising certain compliance deadlines for standards finalized in 2024. Specifically, the EPA is amending the compliance deadlines for certain 2024 revisions to the COB and PQBS NESHAPs from July 7, 2025 and January 6, 2026, to July 5, 2027. The EPA seeks comment on this final action and will respond to comments received and revise this final action as appropriate.
Learn More🌍EPA Regulates Emissions Timelines for Iron and Steel Production
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities to revise certain compliance deadlines for standards finalized in 2024. Specifically, the EPA is revising certain compliance deadlines in the 2024 rule to April 3, 2027, in light of serious concerns that facilities will be unable to comply with the relevant requirements by the existing deadlines.
Learn More♻️EPA Adds New Sites to National Priorities List for Cleanup
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA" or "the Act"), as amended, requires that the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan ("NCP") include a list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States. The National Priorities List ("NPL") constitutes this list. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the Environmental Protection Agency ("the EPA" or "the agency") in determining which sites warrant further investigation. These further investigations will allow the EPA to assess the nature and extent of public health and environmental risks associated with the site and to determine what CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be appropriate. This rule adds three sites to the General Superfund section of the NPL.
Learn More🏗️MSHA Proposes New Rule for Hazard Communication Access in Mining
MSHA is proposing to revise 30 CFR part 47 to allow electronic access to all Hazard Communication (HazCom) materials at no cost to miners. This change would ensure miners have access to information about the chemical hazards where they work while reducing paperwork burdens for operators.
Learn More🛠️New Rule Facilitates Non-Permissible PAPR Usage in Mining
MSHA is proposing to allow the use of non-permissible Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) in specified underground areas of mines, if the equipment meets certain technical specifications and is operated under specific conditions. This proposed rule would codify technical specifications and working conditions to allow the use of non-permissible PAPRs in underground gassy mines. This proposed rule would reduce burden because mine operators would no longer need to submit a petition for modification to use non-permissible PAPRs.
Learn More⚒️Proposed Deregulation for Blacksmith Shops in Mining Operations
MSHA is proposing to revise 30 CFR part 57 to remove outdated requirements regarding blacksmith shops located at surface metal and nonmetal mines. Removal of this standard would not result in a reduction of safety protection for miners at surface metal and nonmetal mines.
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