The Environmental Protection Agency is revoking certain testing requirements for the High Production Volume (HPV) chemical substance benzenesulfonic acid, also known as C.I. Pigment Blue 61. According to EPA, studies have shown that testing is no longer needed for biodegradation, mammalian acute toxicity, bacterial reverse mutation, and chromosomal damage, among other things. Other testing requirements remain in effect, and export notifications under Toxic Substances Control Act Section 12(b) will still be required. The final rule is effective June 12.
The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 15 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). 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 to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The direct final rule is effective July 8. Comments in opposition are due June 10.
The Environmental Protection Agency set pesticide tolerances for propiconazole in barley grain, barley hay, barley straw, aspirated fractions of grain, forage oat, oat grain, oat hay, forage rye, forage wheat, wheat hay, and wheat straw. EPA also revised the existing tolerance for propiconazole in barley bran. The tolerance is effective April 19. Objections and requests for hearings are due by June 18.
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) for eight chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices: P-11-327, P-11-328, P-11-329, P-11-330, P-11-331, P-11-332, P-12-298, and P-12-299. If finalized, persons who intend to import, manufacture, or process any of these chemical substances for an activity deemed a significant new use by EPA would be required to notify the agency at least 90 days in advance. Comments are due by May 20.
The Environmental Protection Agency set a pesticide tolerance for residues of dinotefuran in all food or feed commodities in handling establishments where these products are held, stored, processed, prepared or served. The tolerance does not apply to commodities already covered by a higher tolerance because of use on growing crops or inadvertent residues, the EPA said. Compliance with the tolerance level should be determined by measuring only dinotefuran. The tolerance is effective April 10. Objections and requests for hearings are due by June 10.
The Environmental Protection Agency established pesticide tolerances for residues of flumioxazin in globe artichoke, cabbage, Chinese napa cabbage, olives, pomegranate, and prickly pear pads and fruit. The tolerances are effective April 5. Objections and requests for hearings are due by June 4.
The EPA said it's withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered on- and off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China, saying it believes it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. The EPA had issued the vehicle certificates from 2006 to 2012 to Snyder Technology and Snyder Computer Systems, doing business as Wildfire Motors Corp. (here).
The Environmental Protection Agency set exemptions for tolerances for residues of styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer (here); and castor oil, polymer with adipic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and ricinoleic acid (here), when used as inert ingredients in pesticide formulations. The exemptions, which are effective April 3, eliminate the need to set maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the chemicals, EPA said. Objections to the EPA’s final rule are due by June 3.
The Environmental Protection Agency set production and consumption allowances for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for 2012-2014 in a final rule. The rule implements a 2009 ruling of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Arkema, Inc. v. EPA that said an accelerated schedule for elimination of production and use of HCFCs was impermissibly retroactive (see ). The final rule reduces consumption allowances, which allow production or import, of HCFC-22; raises production allowances for both HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b; and maintains consumption allowances for HCFC-142b at about their current levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency set a tolerance for the pesticide clothianidin in dried tea, in a final rule effective March 29. The agency also increased the tolerance level for the pesticide in pepper to support a shorter pre-harvest interval, it said. Objections on the final rule are due by May 28.