As a result of the government shutdown, the Environmental Protection Agency is extending the review periods for a number of notices submitted to the agency as part of section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the EPA said. The extension applies all Premanufacture Notices, Significant New Use Notices, Microbial Commercial Activity Notices and exemption notices received by the EPA on or before Oct. 1, the agency said in a notice. The review period for submissions between Oct. 1 and Oct. 16 is extended by 16 days, the length of the shutdown, the agency said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a final rule that will restrict imports of perfluorinated chemicals that could be used in carpets, it said in a press release (here). The agency finalized a significant new use rule (SNUR) (here) for the chemical Sept. 30, although the rule has yet to be published in the Federal Register. Perfluorinated chemicals were formerly used for soil and stain resistance in carpets, but have since been voluntarily phased out by the U.S. chemical industry after they were shown to persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in humans and animals, EPA said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is extending until Oct. 9 the deadline for comments on its proposed standards for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Parts of the proposed rule would impose importer recordkeeping requirements and require TSCA import certifications from importers of composite wood products. EPA issued the proposed rule in June, and originally set the comment period to end Aug. 9 (see 13060715).

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 53 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 Oct. 7. Comments in opposition are due Sept. 6.

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 17 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 Aug. 26.

The Environmental Protection Agency changed the address of its Region 7 office, in a final rule that made various conforming changes in its regulations. The new address is as follows:

International trade restrictions on rosewood, ebony and certain reptile species approved in March by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species are now in effect. The new restrictions, approved at CITES triennial world conference, became enforceable June 12. At the conference, member states added several species of rosewood and ebony to CITES Appendix II, which includes species not currently threatened with extinction but may become so without restrictions on trade (see 13031805). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted a letter on its website to importers and exporters of the species, detailing information about the new listings (here). Exports of rosewoods and ebonies from Asia, Central America and Madagascar now require CITES permits assuring that the exports are not harming wild populations.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing extensive changes to its renewable fuels standard (RFS2) program regulations, including some changes that would impose new requirements on renewable fuel importers. The proposed rule would apply to importers of renewable fuels the requirements of 40 CFR 80.1466, including designation, foreign producer certification, product transfer document, load port independent testing and producer identification, submission to U.S. jurisdiction and posting of a bond, EPA said. Currently, those requirements only apply to foreign producers. The proposal would also prohibit importers from generating RINs for renewable fuel imported from a foreign renewable fuel producer or foreign ethanol producer, unless and until the foreign renewable fuel producer or foreign ethanol producer has satisfied all of the Section 80.1466 requirements.

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.