The Environmental Protection Agency is withdrawing significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act, saying it received notices of intent to submit adverse comments on the rules. EPA intends to publish in the near future proposed SNURs for the eight chemical substances under separate notice and comment procedures, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Dec. 21. The eight chemical substances were the subject of PMNs 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. Further information: Kenneth Moss, 202-564-9232 or Moss.Kenneth@epa.gov.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it's promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act for several chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices. That will require persons who intend to manufacture, import, or process any of the chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before beginning that activity. The rule takes effect Feb. 19. Comments or objections must be received by Jan. 22, with docket identification number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0842, via http://www.regulations.gov, or by mail to Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The substances covered by the new SNURs are:
The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 20 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs), it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Nov. 2. Eight of the chemicals are subject to TSCA section 5(e) consent orders issued by EPA. 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 Environmental Protection Agency said an Information Collection Request (ICR) to renew an existing approved collection for Significant New Use Rules has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval.
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking input on a proposal to exempt from full reporting requirements, for manufacture and import, under the Toxic Substances Control Act two microorganisms, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 5. Based on its evaluation of petitions to add Trichoderma reesei and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to the list of microorganisms that may be used as recipient microorganisms, the agency has preliminarily determined that certain strains of both won't unreasonably risk injuries to health or the environment when they're used as recipient microorganisms, provided that certain criteria for the introduced genetic material and the physical containment conditions are met, it said. Anyone who imports, produces, processes or uses the microorganisms, including for basic chemical manufacturing or pesticide, fertilizer and other agricultural chemical manufacturing, are potentially affected by the action, it said.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with INEOS Chlor Americas of Wilmington, Del., to resolve violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA said INEOS imported chain-length chlorinated paraffins into the U.S. without providing the required notice to EPA. INEOS agreed to end the imports. Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said: "With this settlement we have removed all known major sources of this chemical from the marketplace." INEOS also agreed to provide the notices required by TSCA Section 5 to the EPA for any medium or long-chain chlorinated paraffin it wishes to import, and to pay a $175,000 civil penalty. The settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court for Delaware, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 25 chemical substances which were the subject of premanufacture notices, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Aug. 15. The rules require those who intend to manufacture, import, or process any of these 25 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity, giving the EPA the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit it. A list of the chemicals and the reason for the rule on each is in the Federal Register notice (here). The new rule is effective Oct. 15. Written adverse or critical comments, or notice of intent to submit adverse or critical comments, on one or more of the SNURs must be received by Sept. 15. They should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0450, via http://www.regulations.gov, or by mail to Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. Additional information: 202-554-1404 or TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
Environmental Protection Agency said it forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft final rule revising regulations on the labeling of pesticide products and devices intended solely for export. The draft final rule is not available to the public until after it has been signed by EPA. Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0607 is available at http://www.regulations.gov. Further information: Vera Au, 703-308-9069 or au.vera@epa.gov.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the first-ever Microbial Risk Assessment Guideline. The new guideline sets out an overall approach to doing meaningful assessments of the risks posed by pathogens in food and water. Formal risk assessments for food, water, and environmentally-relevant chemicals have been undertaken for decades, but an overall microbial risk assessment guideline has not been available.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it's finalizing significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act for the chemical substances rutile, tin zinc, calciumdoped (CAS No. 389623-01-2) and rutile, tin zinc, sodium-doped (CAS No. 389623-07-8), which were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs P-06-36 and P-06-37) and a TSCA consent order issued by EPA.