A Senate measure that would rescind Energy Star’s third-party certification requirement for consumer tech manufacturers that are in good standing with the program for at least 18 months would hurt the program, an Environment Protection Agency official said. The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S-2012), which cleared the Senate April 20 by an 85-12 vote, gives EPA authority instead to require “that test data and other product information be submitted to facilitate product listing and performance verification for a sample of products,” the legislation says (here).
The Environmental Protection Agency is amending its regulations on Tier 3 motor vehicle emission and fuel standards to correct errors and clarify its regulations, it said (here). EPA’s final rule corrects mistakes in regulations issued in 2014 that reduce emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles, and mandates a reduction of gasoline sulfur content from the current 30 parts per million (ppm) average down to a 10 ppm average (see 14042515).
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for three industrial chemicals under significant new use rules (here). The proposed SNURs would apply to isocyanate prepolymer, methylene diisocyanate polymer with diols and triols, and polymer of isophorone diisocyanate and amine-terminated propoxylatedpolyol. 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 SNUR are due May 13.
The Environmental Protection Agency is giving importers and exporters of waste the opportunity to request confidentiality in several ongoing Freedom of Information Act proceedings where import and export documentation have been requested, it said (here). The FOIA requests relate to the import and export of hazardous waste and universal waste, and exports of cathode ray tubes and spent lead acid batteries, said EPA. Transporters and consignees, among others, that claimed confidential business information in their original submissions to EPA, may submit requests for confidential treatment by March 17.
The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three very long-chain chlorinated paraffin chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) (here). 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 April 11.
The Environmental Protection Agency is amending its regulations on importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances to implement electronic filing through the International Trade Data System (ITDS), in a direct final rule (here). Effective May 9, EPA is removing the requirement that importers submit a petition along with entry documentation for certain ozone depleting substances, and is eliminating references to paper forms that CBP will no longer use as it moves to the Automated Commercial Environment. If EPA receives adverse comments by March 10, it will withdraw the direct final rule and consider the changes as a proposal (here).
There’s still space for importers, customs brokers and software developers that want to participate in pilots of Environmental Protection Agency filing in the Automated Commercial Environment, said Roy Chaudet of EPA’s Office of Information Collection during a webinar held with CBP on Dec. 8. Among pilots that are limited to nine participants, tests for imports of non-road vehicles and engines and pesticide notices of arrival currently have around two each, and a pilot on hazardous waste exporters has four, said Chaudet. Ongoing pilots with unlimited participation include imports of on-road vehicles and engines and ozone depleting substances.
The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 29 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) (here). 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 Feb. 2.
The Environmental Protection Agency is withdrawing significant new use rules (SNURs) it recently set for three chemicals, it said (here). EPA said it received objections to three of the 30 SNURs the agency set in an October final rule (see 1510010077), so it will soon begin a formal rulemaking process for those three chemicals with a notice and comment period. The SNURs were originally set to take effect Dec. 1. The three chemicals were the subject of premanufacture notices P-15-221, P-15-247 and P-15-278.
The Environmental Protection Agency is amending significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 30 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) (here). 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 direct final rule takes effect Dec. 1.