The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 31 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due Aug. 30.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for eight chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due July 11.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting a new significant new use rule (SNUR) intended to stop asbestos from returning to the market for discontinued uses. The new SNUR applies to any use of asbestos that is not ongoing or already prohibited. Uses specifically identified as covered by the SNUR include adhesives, sealants, and roof and non-roof coatings; arc chutes; beater-add gaskets; cement products; extruded sealant tape and other tape; filler for acetylene cylinders; friction materials (with some exceptions); high-grade electrical paper; millboard; missile liner; packings; pipeline wrap; reinforced plastics; roofing felt; separators in fuel cells and batteries; vinyl-asbestos floor tile; woven products; any other building material; and any uses not named that are still covered if they’re not ongoing or already prohibited. The SNUR does not change any current prohibitions on use of asbestos already in place, EPA said. Any uses covered by the SNUR will require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of use, giving EPA a chance to review the intended use, the agency said. The final rule takes effect June 24.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 11 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due May 20.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 13 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 are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The final rule takes effect June 4.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently posted a list of tariff schedule subheadings that may require import certification under Toxic Substances Control Act regulations on formaldehyde in composite wood products. The list is intended to “assist importers in identifying regulated composite wood products, component parts fabricated with composite wood products, and finished goods fabricated with composite wood products which may require TSCA Section 13 Import Certification” in ACE, EPA said on its website. “Although EPA has attempted to identify a large universe of HTS codes that would be associated with articles regulated by the rule, this list is not exhaustive, and in some cases may be over-inclusive. Thus, this list should not be considered conclusive of articles that do or do not require TSCA Section 13 import certification,” EPA said. Import certification for composite wood products has been required since March 22.

The Environmental Protection Agency is initiating the prioritization process for risk evaluations on 40 chemicals under recently added provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA has identified 20 candidates for designation as high priority chemicals, and 20 for designation as low priority. After it completes the prioritization process, EPA will immediately begin the risk evaluation process for any chemicals it designates as high priority. Designations as low risk chemicals or the implementation of restrictions on chemicals designated as high-risk will pre-empt any state restrictions on the chemicals. Comments on risk prioritization for the 40 chemicals identified in the notice are due June 18.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 28 chemicals under significant new use rules. 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 SNURs are due May 3.

The Environmental Protection Agency seeks comments on a petition to amend its regulations to end an exemption for seeds treated with systemic insecticides from registration and labeling requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), it said. The petition says EPA has misinterpreted the FIFRA treated article exemption to apply to seeds treated with systemic insecticides intended to kill pests of the plants, and should enforce FIFRA’s registration and labeling requirements for such products. Comments are due March 26.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to allow a two-year grace period for new hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces to be sold after new performance standards take effect. Under the proposed rule, hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces imported or manufactured before May 15, 2020, the compliance date for the second stage of implementation for the performance standard, could still be sold at retail through May 15, 2022, as long as they comply with standards adopted in the first stage of implementation. Compliance with that first stage was required in 2015 (see 1503130018). EPA also seeks comments on whether it should apply a similar grace period for residential wood heaters. Comments are due Jan. 14, 2019.