A Chinese power sports company and its U.S. affiliate have agreed pay a $725,000 penalty to settle charges that they illegally imported motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, said the Environmental Protection Agency on March 4. Between 2007 and 2013, Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Chunfeng Holding Group Co., and their U.S. distributor CFMOTO Powersports imported over 12,000 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles without the required emissions certifications, said EPA. Of those 12,000 vehicles, EPA found that 993 had fuel tanks that did not operate properly to control gasoline vapors, and that about 1,400 vehicles were imported without proper emission control information labels, it said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 35 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 these 35 chemicals for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule are to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The final rule is effective April 14.

The EPA issued a notice to "affected businesses" about Freedom of Information Act requests it has received for its data on the export and import of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste from and to the U.S., the export of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and spent lead acid batteries (SLABs) from the United States, and the export and import of RCRA universal waste. It said in the Federal Register notice that the documents and data may identify or reference multiple parties, and describe transactions involving the movement of specified materials in which the parties may be involved. The notice is to allow the businesses to assert claims of confidentiality for data pertaining to them, it said. Comments are due by March 12.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three chemical substances (chloro-alkanes) which were the subject of premanufacture notices. 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 April 11.

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for five chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The substances are generically known as rare earth doped complex strontium aluminate, said 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 final rule is effective April 7.

An interagency committee is removing five substances from its list of priority chemicals for testing under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The Interagency Testing Committee’s revises the list at least every six months. The report is used by the Environmental Protection Agency to guide its decisions on the promulgation of chemical testing regulations under Section 4(a) of TSCA. The Priority Testing List now includes two alkylphenols, 45 High Production Volume Challenge Program orphan chemicals, cadmium, a category of cadmium compounds, six non-phthalate plasticizers, 25 phosphate ester flame retardants, two other flame retardants, nine chemicals to which children living near hazardous waste sites may be exposed, and 19 diisocyanates and related compounds, said EPA. Comments on the changes are due by Feb. 24.

The Environmental Protection Agency updated its notice of arrival (NOA) 3540-1 form, said CBP in a CSMS message. Imported pesticides and devices require a NOA to be presented upon arrival as part of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act, said CBP. The NOA form is available (here).

The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting proposals for a total of $4 million in grant funding to establish clean diesel programs to reduce emissions from marine and inland water ports. EPA said it will award between two and five assistance agreements to port authorities for clean diesel projects that may include drayage trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and cargo handling equipment. Priority will be give to ports located in areas of poor air quality, EPA said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is updating its civil monetary penalty amounts for inflation, in a Nov. 6 final rule. The EPA is required to adjust its penalties for inflation every four years. The new penalty amounts take effect for violations committed on or after Dec. 6. The EPA made no changes to penalty amounts for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) or Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) violations.

The Environmental Protection Agency is removing Toxic Substances Control Act significant new use rules (SNURs) on three chemical substances. EPA’s final rule, which takes effect Nov. 5, removes new use notification requirements for the following chemicals: C21-34—branched and linear, chloro; alkanes, C22-30—branched and linear, chloro; and alkanes, C24-28, chloro. Removal of the SNURs appears to be temporary, however: EPA said it plans to publish in the “near future” SNURs for these three chemicals in a separate proposed rule.