News for release:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
After Extensive Analysis, EPA Removes Chemicals from Lists of Regulated
Pollutants
Cynthia Bergman 202-564-9828 / bergman.cynthia@epa.gov
John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov
(
Under the authority of the Clean Air Act, EPA has delisted or exempted six
chemicals: the solvent ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether (EGBE) has been removed
from the list of air toxics (also known as hazardous air pollutants) and the
chemical t-butyl acetate (TBAC) and four others exempted from control as
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Delisting an air toxic is a rigorous process,
involving independent scientific peer review, to demonstrate there are adequate
data to determine that emissions may not reasonably be anticipated to cause
adverse effects. Public comment was received and considered in making this
determination. EPA last delisted an air toxic (caprolactam) in 1996. [Note: The
air toxic EGBE being delisted today remains regulated as a VOC and therefore
will continue to be reported in the Toxics Release Inventory.]
Exempting a VOC requires a demonstration that the compound is negligibly
reactive, meaning the compound forms less ground-level ozone than ethane. EPA
has exempted 48 VOCs since 1977.
EGBE Delisting: EGBE is used in hydraulic fluids and in water-based coatings
for various industries including metal can manufacturers. It is also used in
varnishes, vinyl and acrylic paints, and as a solvent for
varnishes, enamels, spray lacquers, dry cleaning compounds, textiles and
cosmetics. EPA received a petition in 1997 from the American Chemistry Council
to delist EGBE. After extensively reviewing the levels of EGBE in the air and
the health and environmental impacts associated with those levels, EPA has
concluded that potential outdoor exposures to EGBE may not reasonably be
anticipated to cause human health or environmental problems. This action
follows two detailed reviews on the sufficiency and technical merit of a 1997
petition to remove EGBE from the list. Although EGBE use (and, therefore,
emissions) may increase as a result of this action, this action creates incentives
for industry to use EGBE instead of other more toxic solvents. Firms must still
repo!
rt EGBE under the Toxics Release Inventory and EPA
will continue to regulate it as a VOC.
TBAC Exemption: TBAC is a chemical that is currently used to make pharmaceuticals,
pesticides, and other products and that also can be used as a solvent in a
variety of applications. EPA received a petition from Lyondell Chemical
(formerly ARCO Chemical) in 1997 asking EPA to consider excluding TBAC from the
VOC definition. After extensive review, EPA has determined that TBAC meets the
criteria used to define a compound as "negligibly reactive."
Exclusion of this compound as a VOC will help states focus on controlling
emissions of those pollutants that are demonstrated to be ozone precursors. In
addition, a number of manufacturers of paints, inks, and adhesives have
indicated that if TBAC were excluded from regulation as a VOC, they would use
it in their products in place of other compounds that are as much as 20 to 30
times more likely to form ground-level ozone, or smog. Such substitutions will
help decrease ground-level ozone formation, generating public health bene!
fits.
Additional Compounds: EPA is excluding HFE-7000, HFE-7500, HFC 227ea and methyl
formate from control as VOCs. These compounds, which are used as refrigerants,
fire suppressants, and propellants, contribute little or nothing to
ground-level ozone formation. All four of these compounds are environmentally
preferable substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs, which contribute to the destruction
of Earth's stratospheric ozone layer.
In a separate action, EPA is taking phosmet off the "Extremely Hazardous
Substance" (EHS) list under section 302 of the Emergency Planning and
Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) and will no longer be subject to reporting
requirements under that section (e.g. notifying their State Emergency Response
Commission and Local Emergency Planning Committee that they are subject to the
emergency planning provisions of EPCRA section 302 for the chemical phosmet).
Phosmet is a non-systemic organophosphate insecticide used for agricultural
crop protection of fruit, nut and certain field crops. Phosmet is still a
"hazardous chemical" under section 311 and 312 requirements, except
when it is used in routine agricultural operations, such as a pesticide applied
on crops. Therefore, facilities that process or distribute phosmet would still
be subject to EPCRA section 311 and 312 reporting requirements (inventory and
material safety data sheets) if they have phosmet present in amounts equa!
l to or greater than 10,000 pounds. This action does
not alter EPA?s ongoing regulation of phosmet under
the Agency?s existing pesticide regulatory program. Forty-six chemicals have
been deleted from the list since its inception because they did not meet the
toxicity criteria.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
EBGE: Copies of the original petition and its supporting information are
available for public inspection and copying at the following address: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and Information
Center (6102), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. For further
information including the final rule and the Federal Register notice once
published, go to EPA's web site at: http://www.epa.gov/airlinks/airlinks1.html .
TBAC: Interested parties can download the rule from the EPA's web site on the
Internet under "recent actions" at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/airlinks/airlinks1.html .
Additional Compounds: Interested parties can download the final rule from EPA's
web site on the Internet under "recent actions" at the following
address: http://www.epa.gov/airlinks/airlinks1.html .
Phosmet: For more information on phosmet, go to: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/phosmet.htm . For
information on the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/epcraOverview.htm
.