EPA fines Connecticut property management company and property owners for alleged violations of federal Lead Disclosure Rule in New Haven and Waterbury
BOSTON (June 6, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a settlement with a Connecticut-based property management company and two property owners for alleged violations of the Lead Disclosure Rule. Under the terms of the settlement, Idoni Management, LLC, Clebridge, LLC and 34 Hulse, LLC agreed to pay a combined penalty of $39,449.
"Tenants have a right to know if their unit has lead-based paint hazards, especially in areas that have historically been underserved or overburdened by other environmental issues," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Property management companies and property owners also have a duty to keep their tenants informed of potential hazards where they live and play. Cases like this one happen far too often, and I’m hopeful that this settlement will warn other companies to do their due diligence to protect residents and their families."
Idoni Management, LLC is a property management company that manages 43 properties with 265 units in the Norwalk, Connecticut area. In September 2022, EPA reviewed seven lease transactions for properties owned by Clebridge, LLC and 34 Hulse, LLC and managed by Idoni Management, LLC.
Alleged disclosure rule violations were identified with respect to the leases at properties in Waterbury, Connecticut (owned by Clebridge LLC) and New Haven, Connecticut (owned by 34 Hulse, LLC). Both of these properties are located in environmental justice areas of concern. The following alleged Lead Disclosure Rule violations were identified in the leases for the two properties:
failure to include a lead warning statement;
failure to include a statement by the lessor disclosing the presence or indicate no knowledge of lead-based paint; and
failure to include a statement by the lessee affirming receipt of the information and the lead hazard.
This inspection was part of EPA New England's Connecticut Geographic Initiative for lead-based paint.
Background
The Disclosure Rule requires sellers, landlords, and agents to provide potential buyers and renters of housing built before 1978 information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the residence prior to becoming obligated to buy or rent the housing and provides the opportunity for an independent lead inspection for buyers. Sellers, landlords, and agents are responsible for compliance.
More information:
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule
Real Estate Disclosures for Lead Hazards
EPA Lead Enforcement
"Tenants have a right to know if their unit has lead-based paint hazards, especially in areas that have historically been underserved or overburdened by other environmental issues," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Property management companies and property owners also have a duty to keep their tenants informed of potential hazards where they live and play. Cases like this one happen far too often, and I’m hopeful that this settlement will warn other companies to do their due diligence to protect residents and their families."
Idoni Management, LLC is a property management company that manages 43 properties with 265 units in the Norwalk, Connecticut area. In September 2022, EPA reviewed seven lease transactions for properties owned by Clebridge, LLC and 34 Hulse, LLC and managed by Idoni Management, LLC.
Alleged disclosure rule violations were identified with respect to the leases at properties in Waterbury, Connecticut (owned by Clebridge LLC) and New Haven, Connecticut (owned by 34 Hulse, LLC). Both of these properties are located in environmental justice areas of concern. The following alleged Lead Disclosure Rule violations were identified in the leases for the two properties:
failure to include a lead warning statement;
failure to include a statement by the lessor disclosing the presence or indicate no knowledge of lead-based paint; and
failure to include a statement by the lessee affirming receipt of the information and the lead hazard.
This inspection was part of EPA New England's Connecticut Geographic Initiative for lead-based paint.
Background
The Disclosure Rule requires sellers, landlords, and agents to provide potential buyers and renters of housing built before 1978 information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the residence prior to becoming obligated to buy or rent the housing and provides the opportunity for an independent lead inspection for buyers. Sellers, landlords, and agents are responsible for compliance.
More information:
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule
Real Estate Disclosures for Lead Hazards
EPA Lead Enforcement
New York State High School Student Wins EPA’s 2024 Patrick H. Hurd Award for Eco-Friendly Textile Dyes
WASHINGTON — Today, June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Lucia Lammers, a senior at Harrison High School in Harrison, New York, has won EPA’s 2024 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA. Lucia’s project, “Spectroscopic and Colorimetric Analysis of Textiles Dyed with Local Invasive Plant Species and Waste-Derived Mordants,” explored eco-friendly textile dyes to help mitigate the negative environmental impact of local invasive plant species, municipal wastes, and synthetic dyes.
“Congratulations to Lucia Lammers and all the finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development. “Lucia's project shows great potential for making a difference that will positively impact our environment. I commend all the participants for their curiosity, drive and dedication, and encourage them to continue to pursue their passions.”
As part of her project, Lucia connected with local land conservation experts to identify highly invasive plant species impacting biodiversity. She paired dyes from these invasive plants using substances sourced from readily available waste materials, allowing them to bind to textiles. Her innovative approach produced dyes of a wide variety of saturated colors that were successfully applied to textiles and are both safer and healthier for the environment when compared to synthetic dyes. Additionally, by using a Life Cycle Assessment, Lucia was able to identify the most cost-effective and safe combination of materials. She hopes to use her passion for environmental stewardship to create more eco-friendly textiles and fashion.
Honorable mention went to Sarah Gao, a junior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, for her project, “From Trash to Treasure: Fighting Desertification with Sustainable Soil Amending Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste.” After observing how quickly soil dries out after rainfall, Sarah reflected on her kindergarten science fair project exploring the absorbency of diapers. She began exploring if the liquid holding properties of diapers could be translated in an environmentally sustainable way to improve moisture retention of soil in regions experiencing or at risk of drought. Sarah converted agricultural waste in the form of peels from locally available fruit into water absorbing hydrogels for farmers and gardeners to use to sustain soil moisture. She used bioinformatics to predict fruits with peels that could be made into hydrogels, synthesized hydrogels, and demonstrated their water-retaining abilities in soil.
EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award provides the funds necessary for the winning student to attend and participate in the following years’ EPA National Student Design Expo. The Expo features the university and college student teams of our P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet program which also encourages innovative designs applying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to address an environmental challenge.
Lucia and Sarah were finalists at Regeneron® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, a program of the Society for Science. Since 2009, EPA has participated in the ISEF, recognizing projects that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship. This year, ISEF brought together 1,699 high school students from 67 countries, regions and territories, who presented their independent research in competition for over $9 million in awards and scholarships.
Visit Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award for more information about EPA’s participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and to see past winners.
Visit International Science and Engineering Fair for more information about the event.
Check out EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet Student Design Competition for more details about the program.
“Congratulations to Lucia Lammers and all the finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development. “Lucia's project shows great potential for making a difference that will positively impact our environment. I commend all the participants for their curiosity, drive and dedication, and encourage them to continue to pursue their passions.”
As part of her project, Lucia connected with local land conservation experts to identify highly invasive plant species impacting biodiversity. She paired dyes from these invasive plants using substances sourced from readily available waste materials, allowing them to bind to textiles. Her innovative approach produced dyes of a wide variety of saturated colors that were successfully applied to textiles and are both safer and healthier for the environment when compared to synthetic dyes. Additionally, by using a Life Cycle Assessment, Lucia was able to identify the most cost-effective and safe combination of materials. She hopes to use her passion for environmental stewardship to create more eco-friendly textiles and fashion.
Honorable mention went to Sarah Gao, a junior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, for her project, “From Trash to Treasure: Fighting Desertification with Sustainable Soil Amending Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste.” After observing how quickly soil dries out after rainfall, Sarah reflected on her kindergarten science fair project exploring the absorbency of diapers. She began exploring if the liquid holding properties of diapers could be translated in an environmentally sustainable way to improve moisture retention of soil in regions experiencing or at risk of drought. Sarah converted agricultural waste in the form of peels from locally available fruit into water absorbing hydrogels for farmers and gardeners to use to sustain soil moisture. She used bioinformatics to predict fruits with peels that could be made into hydrogels, synthesized hydrogels, and demonstrated their water-retaining abilities in soil.
EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award provides the funds necessary for the winning student to attend and participate in the following years’ EPA National Student Design Expo. The Expo features the university and college student teams of our P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet program which also encourages innovative designs applying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to address an environmental challenge.
Lucia and Sarah were finalists at Regeneron® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, a program of the Society for Science. Since 2009, EPA has participated in the ISEF, recognizing projects that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship. This year, ISEF brought together 1,699 high school students from 67 countries, regions and territories, who presented their independent research in competition for over $9 million in awards and scholarships.
Visit Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award for more information about EPA’s participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and to see past winners.
Visit International Science and Engineering Fair for more information about the event.
Check out EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet Student Design Competition for more details about the program.
EPA Determines that Alaska’s Water Quality Standards Need to be Updated Based on More Accurate Fish Consumption Rates to Protect Communities from Toxic Pollution
SEATTLE (June 6, 2024) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a determination that Alaska’s water quality standards need to be updated to more accurately reflect the amount of fish Alaskans consume. This action requires Alaska to revise its limits on toxic pollutants in the state’s waters to ensure that eating fish supports healthy people and communities. EPA’s determination sets the agency on a path to issuing a federal backstop in the event that Alaska does not strengthen the state’s water quality standards to protect residents.
“EPA continues to engage closely with the state of Alaska to ensure its communities, many of which rely on fish and shellfish for subsistence, are safer from pollution,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Alaskans eat more salmon and other fish and shellfish than the average American. That’s why it’s important to update the science and analyses that underpin federal and state standards that protect water quality and ensure that it’s safe to eat fish.”
This Determination stems from long-standing concerns that the fish consumption rate used in Alaska's existing human health criteria does not reflect the fish consumption patterns of Alaska residents, including rural and Tribal consumers. Alaska’s existing water quality standards, which were last updated in 2003, are based on the national default fish consumption rate at that time of approximately seven ounces per month. Data from several sources indicate that actual fish consumption rates for Alaska residents, including Alaska Native and rural subsistence consumers, likely range from 7-14 ounces per day. Updated water quality standards in Alaska will reflect the latest scientific information, including a more accurate fish consumption rate and toxicity of various pollutants.
If the state does not submit revised water quality standards, EPA plans to propose new and revised standards for Alaska that will take this updated data into account and protect those who eat salmon and other fish and shellfish from the state’s waters. EPA will seek input from the public on the proposed rule and will consider all comments received before proceeding to the final rule stage.
Water quality standards define the water quality goals for a waterbody and provide a regulatory basis for many actions under the Clean Water Act, including reporting on water quality conditions and status; developing water quality-based effluent limits in discharge permits for point-sources; and setting pollution targets for a state’s water bodies.
To learn more about the effort to update Alaska’s water quality standards to better protect human health go to: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-protect-human-health-alaska
“EPA continues to engage closely with the state of Alaska to ensure its communities, many of which rely on fish and shellfish for subsistence, are safer from pollution,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Alaskans eat more salmon and other fish and shellfish than the average American. That’s why it’s important to update the science and analyses that underpin federal and state standards that protect water quality and ensure that it’s safe to eat fish.”
This Determination stems from long-standing concerns that the fish consumption rate used in Alaska's existing human health criteria does not reflect the fish consumption patterns of Alaska residents, including rural and Tribal consumers. Alaska’s existing water quality standards, which were last updated in 2003, are based on the national default fish consumption rate at that time of approximately seven ounces per month. Data from several sources indicate that actual fish consumption rates for Alaska residents, including Alaska Native and rural subsistence consumers, likely range from 7-14 ounces per day. Updated water quality standards in Alaska will reflect the latest scientific information, including a more accurate fish consumption rate and toxicity of various pollutants.
If the state does not submit revised water quality standards, EPA plans to propose new and revised standards for Alaska that will take this updated data into account and protect those who eat salmon and other fish and shellfish from the state’s waters. EPA will seek input from the public on the proposed rule and will consider all comments received before proceeding to the final rule stage.
Water quality standards define the water quality goals for a waterbody and provide a regulatory basis for many actions under the Clean Water Act, including reporting on water quality conditions and status; developing water quality-based effluent limits in discharge permits for point-sources; and setting pollution targets for a state’s water bodies.
To learn more about the effort to update Alaska’s water quality standards to better protect human health go to: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-protect-human-health-alaska
Portland company fined $139,000 for Clean Air Act violations
SEATTLE (June 6, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental protection Agency announced East Side Plating, Inc. of Portland, Oregon, will pay $139,505 for violations of the Clean Air Act.
During 2022 inspections, EPA found East Side Plating failed to comply with Clean Air Act requirements applicable to electroplating operations at the facility.
Specifically, East Side Plating violated the following requirements:
Failed to install covers on its nickel-plating tanks
Failed to implement good housekeeping practices that reduce emissions
Failed to keep records of fume suppressant chemical additions to electroplating tanks
Failed to measure the amount of electricity used by individual electroplating tanks
Electroplating is a type of metal finishing operation that changes the surface properties of a metal part to make it stronger, shinier and corrosion-resistant. Electroplating operations can produce emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including heavy metals like cadmium, lead, manganese, and nickel. While federal, state and local regulations limit the amount of emissions from electroplating shops, dangerous releases of toxic air pollutants can occur if an electroplating shop is out of compliance.
East Side Plating corrected all issues identified by EPA.
“Businesses need to comply with the law,” said EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski. “By evaluating and improving work practices, shops can decrease emissions, reduce production costs, and protect employee and public health.”
This action is part of a national enforcement and compliance initiative Reducing Air Toxics.
Additional details can be found in the Consent Agreement and Final Order.
During 2022 inspections, EPA found East Side Plating failed to comply with Clean Air Act requirements applicable to electroplating operations at the facility.
Specifically, East Side Plating violated the following requirements:
Failed to install covers on its nickel-plating tanks
Failed to implement good housekeeping practices that reduce emissions
Failed to keep records of fume suppressant chemical additions to electroplating tanks
Failed to measure the amount of electricity used by individual electroplating tanks
Electroplating is a type of metal finishing operation that changes the surface properties of a metal part to make it stronger, shinier and corrosion-resistant. Electroplating operations can produce emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including heavy metals like cadmium, lead, manganese, and nickel. While federal, state and local regulations limit the amount of emissions from electroplating shops, dangerous releases of toxic air pollutants can occur if an electroplating shop is out of compliance.
East Side Plating corrected all issues identified by EPA.
“Businesses need to comply with the law,” said EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski. “By evaluating and improving work practices, shops can decrease emissions, reduce production costs, and protect employee and public health.”
This action is part of a national enforcement and compliance initiative Reducing Air Toxics.
Additional details can be found in the Consent Agreement and Final Order.
EPA and White House Senior Advisor Visit Charlotte, North Carolina to Highlight Latest Historic Funding for Clean School Buses
CHARLOTTE, NC – Thursday, June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata joined Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez and local officials for an event to celebrate the award of 2024 rebate funding to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School District from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
In total, through 2023, Clean School Bus Program awards of $8.6 million in rebates to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District will replace 52 diesel-powered buses, which will result in reduced air emissions and fuel savings of over 70,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
"We thank the EPA for granting CMS funds for clean and quiet electric buses. This grant program is a demonstration of government partnerships at their best and allows CMS to do our part to preserve the environment for many generations," states Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Vice Chair, Gregory "Dee" Rankin.
“The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The CSB program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets and freeing up needed resources for schools,” said Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata. “More importantly, phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.”
“The Board of County Commissioners is steadfast in its commitment to environmental stewardship, which is why it continues to be one of the top five investment priorities. A major component of our commitment as outlined in our Environmental Justice Action framework is lowering our carbon footprint. For our fiscal year, Mecklenburg County committed 2.2 million for 90 additional electric vehicle charging stations and 2.9 million for 64 additional electric vehicles,” said Vice Chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Mark Jerrell. “However, despite our efforts, there's still much work to be done and today's announcement is a step closer in the right direction.”
“We have the ability to change lives at this moment in time. We have the ability to have clean air at this moment in time. We have the ability to change the disparities that we have in our community into something that's opportunity for every part of our community,” said Mayor Vi Lyles.
This year, EPA has selected approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly $900 million to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.
“There has never been a wider scale and scope of opportunity to make a difference in so many ways in this community as a result of the President's Invest in America agenda and the remarkable partnership with the President, Governor Cooper, Mayor Lyles, your school board, your private sector, all of the partners. As we invest in levels unprecedented in my lifetime, we want to make sure that every community benefits. We want to make sure that zip code never determines destiny,” said White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez. “Having electric school buses is part of the broader strategy to make sure that from the moment you leave home to the moment you come home, you are breathing clean air, you are in a safe place. That's what the Investment America agenda is all about. And this will result in clean air, healthier air for many of the 25,000,000 children who rely on school buses every day.”
Attendees and reporters were invited to join a “ride along” in an electric school bus prior to the speaking program.
For more information on the Clean School Bus Program: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
###
In total, through 2023, Clean School Bus Program awards of $8.6 million in rebates to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District will replace 52 diesel-powered buses, which will result in reduced air emissions and fuel savings of over 70,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
"We thank the EPA for granting CMS funds for clean and quiet electric buses. This grant program is a demonstration of government partnerships at their best and allows CMS to do our part to preserve the environment for many generations," states Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Vice Chair, Gregory "Dee" Rankin.
“The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The CSB program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets and freeing up needed resources for schools,” said Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata. “More importantly, phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.”
“The Board of County Commissioners is steadfast in its commitment to environmental stewardship, which is why it continues to be one of the top five investment priorities. A major component of our commitment as outlined in our Environmental Justice Action framework is lowering our carbon footprint. For our fiscal year, Mecklenburg County committed 2.2 million for 90 additional electric vehicle charging stations and 2.9 million for 64 additional electric vehicles,” said Vice Chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Mark Jerrell. “However, despite our efforts, there's still much work to be done and today's announcement is a step closer in the right direction.”
“We have the ability to change lives at this moment in time. We have the ability to have clean air at this moment in time. We have the ability to change the disparities that we have in our community into something that's opportunity for every part of our community,” said Mayor Vi Lyles.
This year, EPA has selected approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly $900 million to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.
“There has never been a wider scale and scope of opportunity to make a difference in so many ways in this community as a result of the President's Invest in America agenda and the remarkable partnership with the President, Governor Cooper, Mayor Lyles, your school board, your private sector, all of the partners. As we invest in levels unprecedented in my lifetime, we want to make sure that every community benefits. We want to make sure that zip code never determines destiny,” said White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez. “Having electric school buses is part of the broader strategy to make sure that from the moment you leave home to the moment you come home, you are breathing clean air, you are in a safe place. That's what the Investment America agenda is all about. And this will result in clean air, healthier air for many of the 25,000,000 children who rely on school buses every day.”
Attendees and reporters were invited to join a “ride along” in an electric school bus prior to the speaking program.
For more information on the Clean School Bus Program: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
###
Knock-on effects of unexpected container shortage take aim at North America: analyst
The current chaos playing out in the container market globally doesn’t have to last that long to have some big impacts on North American intermodal, writes Larry Gross.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Strengthen Tribal Food Sovereignty, Co-Stewardship, and Knowledge of Tribal Agriculture Policy
CHEROKEE, North Carolina, June 5, 2024 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of actions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and fulfill long-standing Tribal requests for USDA to better partner with Tribal Nations, and make our overall food system more resilient.
EPA Proposes Requirements to Protect Workers and Consumers from Exposure to Toxic Solvent N-Methylpyrrolidone
WASHINGTON – Today, June 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would protect workers and consumers from exposure to the solvent n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). EPA’s 2020 risk evaluation found that this chemical causes serious health effects, including miscarriages and reduced fertility, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, immune system and nervous system. If finalized, the rule would limit the concentration of NMP that would be allowed in some consumer and commercial products, establish strict workplace health controls for many uses of NMP, and ban some uses that cannot safely continue and for which alternatives already exist.
“We’re making great strides in our efforts to protect people’s health from exposure to chemicals like NMP,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our proposed commonsense worker protections would keep people safe while also ensuring that NMP could continue to be used, as needed.”
NMP is used to manufacture and produce many electronics, polymers, agricultural chemicals and petrochemical products. It is used in the production of specialized electronics, such as semi-conductors and magnet wire, as well as lithium-ion batteries used in a wide variety of applications, including aerospace vehicles and electronic devices. NMP also has numerous other industrial, commercial and consumer applications, including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, paint removers, lubricants, automotive care products, degreasers, cleaning and furniture care products.
To protect consumers from exposure to NMP in glues and adhesives, EPA is proposing a NMP concentration limit of no greater than 45%, as well as container size limits and labeling requirements for other types of consumer products so that they are not used in commercial settings where their more frequent use could pose risks.
EPA is also proposing a NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to protect workers from exposure to NMP for nearly all industrial and commercial uses. The WCPP would include requirements to prevent direct skin contact with NMP that would go into effect a year after the rule is finalized. EPA expects that many sectors, including the semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors, have already implemented the types of exposure controls in their facilities that EPA would require. For example, semiconductor manufacturing fabrication machines, enclosed and automated tools, and clean rooms are some of the exposure controls already in place which EPA expects would meet the requirements of the rule. For several other occupational conditions of use of NMP (such as its use in paints, adhesives, inks, coatings and soldering materials), EPA proposes to require prescriptive workplace controls, including concentration limits and use of personal protective equipment.
EPA is proposing to ban the commercial use of NMP in automotive care products, cleaning and degreasing products, metal products and cleaning and furniture care products because EPA believes these uses cannot safely continue. EPA is also proposing to ban the use of NMP in antifreeze, de-icing products and lubricants because it believes these uses have already ceased. The proposed rule would also ban the commercial use of NMP in fertilizers and other agricultural chemical manufacturing processes because EPA does not currently have information demonstrating that they could be safely continued. For these uses, EPA believes that such information may exist, and EPA expects to conduct proactive outreach during the comment period to better understand industrial practices associated with these uses.
EPA encourages members of the public and stakeholders to read and comment on the proposed rule. EPA has and will continue to engage with industry stakeholders on the proposed rule. The agency is especially interested in hearing perspectives from the public on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed requirements for worker protections, including from workers and entities that would be required to implement the workplace protections or from entities that believe they can feasibly implement the workplace protections.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for NMP for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744.
EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the proposal on Thursday, June 20, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Registration is available here.
Learn more about today’s proposal.
“We’re making great strides in our efforts to protect people’s health from exposure to chemicals like NMP,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our proposed commonsense worker protections would keep people safe while also ensuring that NMP could continue to be used, as needed.”
NMP is used to manufacture and produce many electronics, polymers, agricultural chemicals and petrochemical products. It is used in the production of specialized electronics, such as semi-conductors and magnet wire, as well as lithium-ion batteries used in a wide variety of applications, including aerospace vehicles and electronic devices. NMP also has numerous other industrial, commercial and consumer applications, including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, paint removers, lubricants, automotive care products, degreasers, cleaning and furniture care products.
To protect consumers from exposure to NMP in glues and adhesives, EPA is proposing a NMP concentration limit of no greater than 45%, as well as container size limits and labeling requirements for other types of consumer products so that they are not used in commercial settings where their more frequent use could pose risks.
EPA is also proposing a NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to protect workers from exposure to NMP for nearly all industrial and commercial uses. The WCPP would include requirements to prevent direct skin contact with NMP that would go into effect a year after the rule is finalized. EPA expects that many sectors, including the semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors, have already implemented the types of exposure controls in their facilities that EPA would require. For example, semiconductor manufacturing fabrication machines, enclosed and automated tools, and clean rooms are some of the exposure controls already in place which EPA expects would meet the requirements of the rule. For several other occupational conditions of use of NMP (such as its use in paints, adhesives, inks, coatings and soldering materials), EPA proposes to require prescriptive workplace controls, including concentration limits and use of personal protective equipment.
EPA is proposing to ban the commercial use of NMP in automotive care products, cleaning and degreasing products, metal products and cleaning and furniture care products because EPA believes these uses cannot safely continue. EPA is also proposing to ban the use of NMP in antifreeze, de-icing products and lubricants because it believes these uses have already ceased. The proposed rule would also ban the commercial use of NMP in fertilizers and other agricultural chemical manufacturing processes because EPA does not currently have information demonstrating that they could be safely continued. For these uses, EPA believes that such information may exist, and EPA expects to conduct proactive outreach during the comment period to better understand industrial practices associated with these uses.
EPA encourages members of the public and stakeholders to read and comment on the proposed rule. EPA has and will continue to engage with industry stakeholders on the proposed rule. The agency is especially interested in hearing perspectives from the public on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed requirements for worker protections, including from workers and entities that would be required to implement the workplace protections or from entities that believe they can feasibly implement the workplace protections.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for NMP for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744.
EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the proposal on Thursday, June 20, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Registration is available here.
Learn more about today’s proposal.