The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for trichloroethylene (TCE) under a significant new use rule (here). The proposed SNUR would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance from importers, manufacturers or processors that intend to use the chemicals in consumer products. Comments on the proposed SNUR are due Oct. 6.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule on July 20 setting new requirements for using the agency’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) to submit premanufacture notices, other Toxic Substances Control Act section 5 notices, and support documents (here). The direct final rule takes effect Jan. 19, 2016, unless adverse comments are submitted by Aug. 19.

The Environmental Protection Agency is amending significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 21 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 to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The direct final rule is effective Aug. 31.

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 22 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 to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. The direct final rule is effective Aug. 4. Comments in opposition are due July 6.

The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public meeting on July 11 in Washington, D.C. to discuss proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers, importers and processors of nanoscale materials, it said (here). Under the agency’s April 6 proposed rule, importers of covered nanomaterials would be subject to one-time reporting of manufacturing and safety data 135 days prior to importation, and reporting would also be required for any nanomaterials imported during the three years prior to the effective date of the final regulations (see 1504030023). The public meeting will “provide an opportunity for further discussion of the proposed requirements and is intended to facilitate comments on all aspects of that proposed rule,” said the EPA. Requests to participate in the meeting are due by June 1.

The Environmental Protection Agency is promulgating significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 25 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 these 25 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 takes effect July 7.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to amend Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) for 24 chemical substances that were the subject to premanufacture notices (here). Under the SNURs, any importation, processing or manufacturing of the chemicals for new uses would be subject to requirements to notify EPA at least 90 days before they are used. Comments are due May 11.

The Environmental Protection Agency settled a civil case over illegal imports and sales involving four U.S. vehicle importers and a Chinese manufacturer, the agency said on April 7. Those Texas-based companies imported and sold “more than 4,000 uncertified off-road recreational vehicles" using "the brand name Hammerhead between 2007-2011.” The U.S. companies, Geason Enterprises, GE Ventures, Hammerhead Off-Road, and TJ Power Sports, along with the Shanghai Howhit Machinery Manufacture, agreed to pay $560,000 in civil penalties. The imports lacked the necessary certifications and the sales violated the Clean Air Act, the EPA said. “EPA discovered the violations during inspections of imported vehicles at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, the Port of Dallas, the Port of Chicago, and Hammerhead’s warehouse in Dallas,” said the agency (here).

The Environmental Protection Agency intends to issue final regulations on formaldehyde in wood flooring “late this year,” it said in an update posted to its website (here). The agency received a “large number” of comments on its proposed rule (see 13060715), and is “carefully considering the comments in developing the final rule,” it said. Trade associations criticized importer certification requirements and the lack of a de minimis level in comments following the publication of the proposed rule in 2013 (see 13101816). EPA also posted a questions and answers section to its website (here) in response to concerns from consumers prompted by media reports of excessive formaldehyde in wood sold by Lumber Liquidators (see 1503260020).

The Environmental Protection Agency is revoking a significant new use rule (SNUR) on two metal salts of complex inorganic oxyacids, in a final rule that takes effect May 26 (here). The agency is removing the restrictions because it has received test data that show the two chemicals have low toxicity, it said.