The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for hydrochlorofluoropropane and hydrochlorofluoropropene under a significant new use rule (SNUR) (here). The proposed SNUR would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance from importers, manufacturers or processors that intend to use the chemicals. Comments on the proposed SNUR are due Sept. 23.

The Environmental Protection Agency (here) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (here) will soon issue a final rule setting stricter emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty engines and vehicles, they said. The new vehicle and engine performance standards will cover model years 2021-2027, applying to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks. The two agencies are also applying emissions and fuel efficiency standards to trailers for the first time, excluding mobile homes, with EPA standards taking effect beginning with model year 2018 and NHTSA standards taking effect for model year 2021. A copy of the final rule, which has yet to be published in the Federal Register, is available (here). EPA posted a fact sheet on the final rule (here).

The Environmental Protection Agency is increasing amounts of civil penalties for violations of the laws and regulations it administers, including the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and Toxic Substances Control Act, it said in an interim rule (here). The one-time “catch up,” which more than doubles some penalty amounts, was required by the Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, signed into law in November, and will be followed by annual adjustments for inflation.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed to add a category of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a chemical commonly used as a flame retardant in polystyrene foam, textiles and high-impact polystyrene foam found in appliances, to its list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. If the proposal is finalized, facilities that manufacture (including import), process or otherwise use HBCD in excess of the applicable threshold would be required to report certain information to EPA each year. Comments on the agency’s proposed rule (here) are due by Aug. 1.

A Senate measure that would rescind Energy Star’s third-party certification requirement for consumer tech manufacturers that are in good standing with the program for at least 18 months would hurt the program, an Environment Protection Agency official said. The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S-2012), which cleared the Senate April 20 by an 85-12 vote, gives EPA authority instead to require “that test data and other product information be submitted to facilitate product listing and performance verification for a sample of products,” the legislation says (here).

The Environmental Protection Agency is amending its regulations on Tier 3 motor vehicle emission and fuel standards to correct errors and clarify its regulations, it said (here). EPA’s final rule corrects mistakes in regulations issued in 2014 that reduce emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles, and mandates a reduction of gasoline sulfur content from the current 30 parts per million (ppm) average down to a 10 ppm average (see 14042515).

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for three industrial chemicals under significant new use rules (here). The proposed SNURs would apply to isocyanate prepolymer, methylene diisocyanate polymer with diols and triols, and polymer of isophorone diisocyanate and amine-terminated propoxylatedpolyol. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Comments on the proposed SNUR are due May 13.

The Environmental Protection Agency is giving importers and exporters of waste the opportunity to request confidentiality in several ongoing Freedom of Information Act proceedings where import and export documentation have been requested, it said (here). The FOIA requests relate to the import and export of hazardous waste and universal waste, and exports of cathode ray tubes and spent lead acid batteries, said EPA. Transporters and consignees, among others, that claimed confidential business information in their original submissions to EPA, may submit requests for confidential treatment by March 17.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three very long-chain chlorinated paraffin chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) (here). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import, or process any of the chemicals for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The final rule takes effect April 11.

The Environmental Protection Agency is amending its regulations on importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances to implement electronic filing through the International Trade Data System (ITDS), in a direct final rule (here). Effective May 9, EPA is removing the requirement that importers submit a petition along with entry documentation for certain ozone depleting substances, and is eliminating references to paper forms that CBP will no longer use as it moves to the Automated Commercial Environment. If EPA receives adverse comments by March 10, it will withdraw the direct final rule and consider the changes as a proposal (here).