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Region 10: The Pacific Northwest |  |
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Serving the people of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 270 Native Tribes
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EPA Adds New Chemicals and Lowers Reporting Thresholds for 18 Persistent and Bioaccumulative Chemicals 1) EPA is adding seven chemicals and two chemical compound categories to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under EPCRA section 313. These chemicals include:· benzo(j,k)fluorene (fluoranthene) (as a member of the PACs category), · 3-methylcholanthrene (as a member of the PACs category), · octochlorostyrene, · pentachlorobenzene, · tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), · vanadium1 (except when contained in an alloy), · vanadium compounds, and · dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (manufacturing; and the processing or otherwise use of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds if the dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are present as contaminants in a chemical and if they were created during the manufacturing of that chemical). 2) EPA is lowering reporting thresholds for 18 chemicals and chemical categories that meet the EPCRA section 313 criteria for persistence and bioaccumulation. These chemicals and their final thresholds are listed in the table below: Reporting Thresholds for EPCRA Section 313 Listed PBT Chemicals
EPA is deferring its decision for two chemicals and one chemical category. Specifically, EPA is deferring a determination on dicofol while the Agency continues to review the available persistence data. EPA is also deferring its decision on cobalt and cobalt compounds because it needs to further investigate the bioaccumulative potential of these chemicals. 3) EPA is finalizing the thresholds it proposed for PBT chemicals in the January 5, 1999 (64 FR 688) Federal Register. Specifically, EPA is finalizing two thresholds based the chemicals’ potential to persist and bioaccumulate in the environment. The two levels include setting section 313 manufacture, process, and otherwise use thresholds to 100 pounds for PBT chemicals and to 10 pounds for that subset of PBT chemicals that are highly persistent and highly bioaccumulative. One exception is the dioxin and dioxin-like compounds category. EPA is setting the threshold for the dioxin and dioxin-like compound category at 0.1 gram. 4) EPA is eliminating the de minimis exemption for the PBT chemicals finalized today. However, this action will not affect the applicability of the de minimis exemption to the supplier notification requirements (40 CFR 372.45(d)(1)). EPA is also excluding all PBT chemicals from eligibility for the alternate threshold of 1 million pounds and eliminating for PBT chemicals range reporting for on-site releases and transfers off-site for further waste management. EPA has also provided guidance on the level of accuracy expected to be reported under this rule. This rule will become effective on January 1, 2000. Federal Register of the Final Rule If you don't have Adobe Acrobat software or the free Reader (necessary to open the documents above), you can download a FREE copy by clicking at the end of this sentence to go to the Adobe Acrobat Web Site   . Please read our Disclaimer first. We highly recommend that you read us on-line (don't print it out) and save a tree!! Unit: Solid Waste & Toxics Unit Christina Colt E-Mail: colt.christina@epa.gov (206) 553-4016 Phone Number: (206) 553-4016 Last Updated (mm/dd/yy): 05/18/2006 Toxics in Your Community http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/hide/pbtfr |