82 FR 31932 - Labeling Relief; Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 131 (July 11, 2017)

EPA is proposing to amend a final rule that published in the Federal Register on December 12, 2016 concerning formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products. The proposed amendment would allow compliant composite wood products and finished goods that contain compliant composite wood products that were manufactured prior to December 12, 2017 to be labeled as Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI compliant. This means that regulated composite wood products and finished goods that meet the required formaldehyde emissions standards could be voluntarily labeled as compliant as soon as compliance can be achieved. This would enhance regulatory flexibility and facilitate a smoother supply chain transition to compliance with the rule's broader requirements, as well as promote lower formaldehyde emitting products entering commerce earlier than under the rule as originally published. EPA believes that the proposed amendment is non- controversial and does not expect to receive any adverse comments. Therefore, in addition to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, EPA is promulgating the amendment as a direct final rule.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31932]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14514]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 770

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0243; FRL-9963-06]
RIN 2070-AK30


Labeling Relief; Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite 
Wood Products

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to amend a final rule that published in the 
Federal Register on December 12, 2016 concerning formaldehyde emission 
standards for composite wood products. The proposed amendment would 
allow compliant composite wood products and finished goods that contain 
compliant composite wood products that were manufactured prior to 
December 12, 2017 to be labeled as Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
Title VI compliant. This means that regulated composite wood products 
and finished goods that meet the required formaldehyde emissions 
standards could be voluntarily labeled as compliant as soon as 
compliance can be achieved. This would enhance regulatory flexibility 
and facilitate a smoother supply chain transition to compliance with 
the rule's broader requirements, as well as promote lower formaldehyde 
emitting products entering commerce earlier than under the rule as 
originally published. EPA believes that the proposed amendment is non-
controversial and does not expect to receive any adverse comments. 
Therefore, in addition to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, elsewhere 
in this issue of the Federal Register, EPA is promulgating the 
amendment as a direct final rule.

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 26, 2017. Comments 
postmarked after the close of the comment period will be stamped 
``late'' and may or may not be considered by the Agency.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0243, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    For technical information contact: Erik Winchester, National 
Program Chemicals Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-6450; email 
address: [email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For further information about the changes to 
the labeling provisions in the final rule concerning formaldehyde 
emission standards for composite wood products (81 FR 89674, December 
12, 2016) (FRL-9949-90), please see the information provided in the 
direct final rule that is located, with the same title as this proposed 
rule, in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register 
publication (See FRL-9963-05).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 770

    Environmental protection, Formaldehyde, Incorporation by reference, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Third-party certification, 
Toxic substances, Wood.

    Dated: June 21, 2017.
Wendy Cleland-Hamnett,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-14514 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P