⚗️TSCA Risk Evaluation Procedures Proposed Amendments by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, "the Agency") is proposing to amend the procedural framework rule for conducting existing chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). When conducting an existing chemical risk evaluation under TSCA, EPA must determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or non-risk factors, including unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation identified as relevant to the risk evaluation, under the conditions of use. In this action, EPA proposes to rescind or revise certain 2024 amendments to the procedural framework rule to effectuate the best reading of the statute and ensure that the procedural framework rule does not impede the timely completion of risk evaluations or impair the effective and efficient protection of health and the environment.
Learn More⛽Hawaii UST Program Amendment Approval Overview
On March 7, 2022, the State of Hawaii (Hawaii or State) received final approval, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of revisions to its Underground Storage Tank Program (UST Program) under subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Pursuant to RCRA, the EPA is taking direct final action, subject to public comment, to amend its final approval of the UST Program. The amendment clarifies the statutory provisions that are part of the approved UST Program and identifies some additional statutory provisions that are broader in scope and not part of the approved UST Program. This action also codifies the EPA's approval of Hawaii's revised UST Program and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that the EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval.
Learn More🛢️EPA Approves Hawaii's Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions
On March 7, 2022, the State of Hawaii (Hawaii or State) received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final approval of revisions to its Underground Storage Tank Program (UST Program) under subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Pursuant to RCRA, the EPA is proposing to amend its final approval of the Hawaii UST Program to clarify the statutory provisions that are part of the approved UST Program and identify some additional statutory provisions that are broader in scope and not part of the approved UST Program. This action also proposes to codify the EPA's approval of Hawaii's revised UST Program and to incorporate by reference the State statutes and regulations that the EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval.
Learn More⚠️EPA Extends TCE Compliance Deadlines for Nuclear Fuel Production
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is taking interim final action on the Regulation of Trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to revise certain compliance deadlines finalized in 2024. Specifically, EPA is amending the prohibition compliance date for the use of TCE as a processing aid in the manufacture of nuclear fuel, with corresponding changes to the compliance dates for the manufacturing, processing and distribution in commerce of TCE to support such use, to a prohibition on September 15, 2028. EPA is also amending the prohibition compliance date for the disposal of TCE to wastewater by processors of TCE and processors and industrial and commercial users of TCE as a processing aid, to begin on December 18, 2026. EPA is also amending the compliance deadline for downstream notification, and the text required to be present in Safety Data Sheets, to accurately reflect the new prohibition compliance deadline for TCE used as a processing aid in the manufacture of nuclear fuel. EPA is amending this compliance deadline to allow for 90 days after the publication of the final rule for manufacturers, processors, and distributors in commerce of TCE to make such a change. These revisions are necessary to address new information presented to EPA about inadvertent oversights in the original rulemaking and serious concerns that the facilities at issue will be unable to comply with the relevant requirements by the existing deadlines. EPA is requesting comments on all aspects of this interim final rule and will consider all comments received in determining whether amendments to this rule are appropriate after the conclusion of the comment period.
Learn More⛽Maryland Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions Approved by EPA
Pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, as amended (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Maryland's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by Maryland (Maryland or State). This action also codifies EPA's approval of Maryland's state program and incorporates by reference (IBR) those provisions of Maryland's regulations and statutes that EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.
Learn More🏞️EPA's Proposed Deletion of Corozal Well From National Priorities List
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Notice of Intent to delete one site, Corozal Well, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.
Learn More⛽Approval of Minnesota’s Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions
Pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, as amended (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Minnesota's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This action also codifies EPA's approval of Minnesota's state program and incorporates by reference those provisions of Minnesota's statutes and regulations that EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.
Learn More🌫️New EPA Rules Remove Affirmative Defense for Polyether Polyols Industry
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Polyether Polyols (PEPO) Production under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Specifically, for this NESHAP, the EPA is finalizing the removal of affirmative defense provisions associated with the violation of air emission standards due to malfunctions.
Learn More🌫️Proposed Amendments to Connecticut's Air Pollution Regulations by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve regulatory amendments that revise two previous program approvals from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The revisions include amendments to the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) that revise the Connecticut State Operating Permit Program and amendments to RCSA that revise limitations on potential to emit Clean Air Act (CAA) pollutants. A significant aspect of this action involves revising the definition of "hazardous air pollutant" in the RCSA in response to EPA adding 1- bromopropane to the list of hazardous air pollutants. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Learn More🔬EPA's New Use Rules for Chemical Substances
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 a Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN) 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.
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