National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production Residual Risk and Technology Review The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production. The source category addressed in this action is the Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production source category. The EPA is proposing the results of the residual risk and technology review that the EPA is required to conduct in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Based on the results of the EPA's risk review, the Agency is proposing that risk due to emissions of air toxics from this source category is acceptable and that the current NESHAP provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health Under the technology review, the EPA is proposing there are no developments in practices, processes, or control technologies that necessitate revision of the standards. Therefore, the EPA is proposing no revisions to the numerical emission limits based on these analyses. However, the EPA is proposing to revise provisions pertaining to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction; \. y add requirements for electronic reporting of certain notifications and reports and performance test results; and make other minor clarifications and corrections. Although the proposed amendments would not result in reductions in emissions of hazardous air pollutants, if finalized, they would result in improved compliance and implementation of the rule. For further information contact: Please contact Virginia Hunt at (919) 541-0632 email at hunt.virginia@epa.gov Office of Water & Department of Army Small Entity Outreach for Mitigation Rulemaking The ASBO coordinated and hosted the Office of Water's Small Entity Outreach Meeting for EPA and Corps Mitigation Rulemaking on June 20, 2019. This meeting included small business stakeholders as well as federal partners (SBA and OMB). The outreach meeting consisted of 32 total attendees. Written and oral pre-proposal input was provided by attendees. DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZfgJEPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: ELNORA THOMPSON AT: THOMPSON.ELNORA@EPA.GOV ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA Takes Important Step to Further Protect Children from Exposure to Lead-Contaminated Dust; Region 7 Joins Event in St. Joseph, Missouri The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced new, tighter standards for lead in dust on floors and window sills to protect children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. EPA is issuing a stronger, more protective standard for lead dust in homes and child care facilities across the country. EPA's Region 7 is committed to continuing a collaborative approach with our city, state and federal partners to address this threat and protect the health of our nation's most vulnerable our children. HUD continues to work with EPA and other federal agencies to reduce children's exposure to lead sources and help ensure the children and families we serve are safe. Since the 1970s, the United States has made tremendous progress in lowering children's blood-lead levels. In 2001, EPA set standards for lead in dust for floors and window sills in housing. However, since that time, the best available science has evolved to indicate human health effects at lower blood-lead levels than previously analyzed. To protect children's health and continue making progress on this important issue, EPA is lowering the dust-lead hazard standards from 40 micrograms of lead per square foot (|ig/ft2) to 10 |ig/ft2 on floors, and from 250 |ig/ft2 to 100 |ig/ft2 on window sills. The more protective dust-lead hazard standards will apply to inspections, risk assessments, and abatement activities in pre-1978 housing and certain schools, child care facilities, and hospitals across the country. Lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint is one of the most common causes of elevated blood-lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. They can be exposed from multiple sources and may experience irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead- based paint deteriorates or is disturbed. For further information contact: Ashley Murdie, (913)551-7785, email at murdi e. ashl ev@ep a. gov. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses Small Business Environmental Assistance Program SBEAP ¦1 PROGRAM Dear SBEAP: I am Walter Weedless the Environmental Manager as well as the Facility Manager for a small manufacturing shop. I've been following the news recently and one of the products we use frequently, glyphosate herbicide, has been involved in some very expensive lawsuits. My employees and I use the glyphosate herbicide, as described on the label, to control weeds around our shop parking lot. Are herbicides containing glyphosate still legal to use? Am I putting myself or my employees in danger by using this product? Dear Walter: Glyphosate is one of the most used herbicides worldwide. Recently, discussions about glyphosate herbicide, its connection to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lawsuits against glyphosate manufacturers have made their way to media outlets. You are not alone in trying to decipher what all this information means. This answer will break down your questions and answer them piece by piece. Your first question, "Are glyphosate-containing herbicides still legal to use?", can be answered with a definitive yes. The EPA is the federal regulatory authority responsible for approving herbicides and based on the body of scientific knowledge it is using, the EPA position is that glyphosate is safe to use when done so in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. Should the EPA decide to change the approved status of glyphosate, there will likely be plenty of notice given to its users about the possible change well before it would take effect. To answer this question about these huge monetary lawsuits, there are a few points about them that need to be taken into account. First, these lawsuits have all been against the manufacturer of a glyphosate herbicide and not any purchasers or users of the product. Second, the lawsuits discussed in the media are all civil cases, not criminal cases. And finally, other bodies of medical and epidemiological research outside of what the EPA has used have shown the possibilities of illness through glyphosate exposure. This set of circumstances has played out in the courtroom a few times so far, with thousands more lawsuits lined up for the future. Although this is not the typical air permitting question SBEAP would answer, I want to remind you and other readers that when you have environmental compliance questions, you can always ask SBEAP for help. To find your state SBEAP, click on this map. If you need additional assistance, you can email Ask SBEAP or call us at 800-578-8898. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subspecies plantarum strain FZB42; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.htm Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 117, Tuesday, June 18, 2019/ Rules and Regulations AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Final Rule. SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subspecies plantarum strain FZB42 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Andermatt Biocontrol AG (c/o SciReg, Inc.) submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subspecies plantarum strain FZB42 in or on all food commodities under FFDCA. For further information contact: Robert McNally, (703) 305-7090 email at smith.kenon@epa.gov or Jason Kuhns at (202) 564-3236 or email at BPPDFRNotices@epa.gov.. SUBJECT: Melamine Formaldehyde Polycondensate Resin; Tolerance Exemption http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 119, Thursday, June 20, 2019/ Rules and Regulations AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of formaldehyde, reaction products with melamine; 1,3,5- triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde; formaldehyde reaction products with melamine and methanol; and 1,3,5-triazine- 2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde, methylated; collectively referred to as melamine formaldehyde polycondensate resin; when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. BASF Corporation submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of formaldehyde, reaction products with melamine; 1,3,5 -triazine- 2,4,6-tri amine, polymer with formaldehyde; formaldehyde reaction products with melamine and methanol; l,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine, polymer with formaldehyde, methylated on food or feed commodities. This regulation is effective June 20, 2019. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before August 19, 2019, For further information contact: Michael Goodis, (703) 305-7090, email at dresser.chris@epa.gov. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- |