WHAT IS PROJECT XL? <* WHAT IS THE P2 FRAMEWORK? UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Administrator [Mail Code 1802] EPA-100-F-00-032 September2000 (http://www.epa.gov) Project XL: PPG Industries P2 FRAMEWORK c;s Project XL, which stands for "excellence and Leadership," is a national initiative that tests innovative ways of achieving better and more cost-effective public health and environmental protection. The information and lessons learned from Project XL are being used to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in redesigning its current regulatory and policy-setting approaches. Project XL encourages testing of cleaner, cheaper, and smarter ways to attain environmental results superior to those achieved under current regulations and policies, in conjunction with greater accountability to stakeholders. It is vital that each project tests new ideas with the potential for wide application and broad environmental benefits. As of September 2000, thirty-two pilot experiments are being implemented and over twenty additional projects are in various stages of development. The Pollution Prevention (P2) Framework is a set of chemical screening methods that EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) developed to screen chemicals and products for risk in cases where data are missing or limited. OPPTS developed the P2 Framework to help screen pre-manufacture notifications (PMN) for new chemical substances that are submitted to the Agency under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA requires that prospective manufacturers (or importers) wait 90 days after submitting a PMN before they can begin to manufacture (or import) a new chemical substance. Within that 90-day period, the Agency must evaluate the report and identify potential risks of the new chemical substance. The P2 Framework has allowed the Agency to screen new chemical substances quickly in the absence of data. SUMMARY OF THE PPG XL PROJECT PPG Industries, a leading global supplier of coatings, chemicals, and glass, operates over 150 production facilities worldwide. Under this project, three of PPG's Pittsburgh area facilities will use the P2 Framework and seek administrative flexibility to manufacture PMN chemicals for commercial test marketing 45 days, rather than 90 days after notification to EPA. PPG will use the P2 Framework during the early stages of product development, allowing PPG to improve the environmental performance of products while reducing costs, saving time, enhancing competitive advantage and decreasing potential liability. PPG also will conduct a validation study to compare measured data with the predictions generated by specific models within the P2 Framework. As results are available, PPG will communicate the uses and benefits of the P2 Framework to other companies. This XL project, EPA's 33rd, was signed on September 14. 2000. SUPERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE By using the P2 Framework, PPG will be able to develop products and processes that are innovative, cleaner, and safer for the environment, in less time, while operating manufacturing and waste handling processes at higher levels of environmental performance. FLEXIBILITY Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). a prospective manufacturer must wait 90 days after submitting a pre-manufacture notice (PMN) before beginning to manufacture a new product. EPA often concludes its review of the PMN after 28 days for chemicals that are identified as "low risk" Through its use of the P2 Framework, PPG expects that EPA generally will complete its review of PPG's PMN chemicals Pane 1 ------- within 26 days or less. PPG therefore proposes that, in cases where EPA's review of PPG's PMN is completed in 26 days, it be allowed to begin manufacture after 45 days rather than 90 days. The shortened 45-day waiting period will be available only for chemicals for which EPA has no further concerns. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT Public meetings were held to inform the general public about this project and invite their comments and participation. PPG conducted public meetings at its Allison Park, Pa., and Monroeville, Pa., facilities. Other public meetings may be held during project implementation depending on public interest or decisions by the direct participants. APPROACHES TO BE TESTED Will use of the P2 Framework early in the design and development of chemical substances result in products that are safer and better for the environment? Will shorter EPA review periods for chemicals identified as low risk products reduce costs, decrease potential liability, and improve market share-resulting in a competitive advantage for companies? CONTACTS EPA Region 3: EPA Headquarters: PPG Industries, Inc. Chris Menen Lisa Reiter Bill Waugh Maggie Wilson Jean Chun (215) 814-2786 (202) 260-9041 (202) 260.3489 (202) 260.3902 (412) 492-5482 FOR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION More information about the PPG XL Project, or the Project XL Program, is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/proiectxl under "Information on Specific XL Projects," or via Project XL's Information Line at 202-260-5754 Page 2 ------- |