EPA to Hold Open Houses and Community Meetings for Memphis Residents about Health Risks from Ethylene Oxide
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 11, 2022) - On Tuesday, October 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host several public forums to share information about ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions and risk information impacting Memphis, Tennessee. EPA is reaching out to communities facing the highest risks from commercial sterilizer facilities that use EtO, including Sterilization Services of TN (SST) located at 2396 Florida Street in Memphis.
EPA is sharing this information because communities have a right to know about emissions that could affect their health and well-being. EPA will host two open houses and two community meetings. The open houses are in-person events, however, residents may participate in the community meetings in-person or virtually – either by phone or online on the Zoom platform.
Open House: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
* In-person only
Community Meeting: 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
In person: Monumental Baptist Church, located at 704 S Pkwy E in Memphis
By phone: Call in number: (883) 435-1820; Webinar ID: 1614966124
Online via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
* In-person only
Community Meeting 7:15p.m. 8:45 p.m.
In person: Monumental Baptist Church, located at 704 S Pkwy E in Memphis
By phone: Call in number: (883) 568-8864; Webinar ID: 1617052397
Online via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
EtO is a colorless, odorless gas that is often used for sterilization purposes. Inhalation of EtO at elevated levels over a lifetime can increase a person’s risk of getting cancer. However, single-day exposures to the concentrations found in residential communities are not an immediate threat to an individual’s health.
EPA has determined that portions of South Memphis neighborhoods in the vicinity of SST have an estimated lifetime cancer risk at or above 100 in a million. A lifetime cancer risk of 100 in a million means that, if 1 million people were exposed to this level of EtO in the air 24 hours a day for 70 years, 100 people would be expected to develop cancer from that exposure. The risk gradually increases as you get closer to the facility, reaching an estimated maximum of 2,000 in a million in areas closest to SST.
EPA will soon propose a new rule to limit EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers and will seek public input on the rule. In the meantime, the agency is working with SST and other sterilizers across the country on ways they can voluntarily control emissions to reduce risk.
BACKGROUND
EPA has regulated EtO emissions for 30 years, however in 2016, new scientific information revealed that EtO is more toxic than previously understood. This prompted EPA to conduct nationwide analyses and intensive data collection, which has revealed that certain communities near commercial sterilizers could have elevated cancer risks due to lifetime exposures to EtO. Please visit www.epa.gov/eto for additional information, including a link to view EPA’s August 10th National Public Webinar, location-specific maps, information about individual commercial sterilizers, and health risks for residents and workers.
For more information about EtO in Memphis, please visit: www.epa.gov/eto/memphis
###
EPA is sharing this information because communities have a right to know about emissions that could affect their health and well-being. EPA will host two open houses and two community meetings. The open houses are in-person events, however, residents may participate in the community meetings in-person or virtually – either by phone or online on the Zoom platform.
Open House: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
* In-person only
Community Meeting: 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
In person: Monumental Baptist Church, located at 704 S Pkwy E in Memphis
By phone: Call in number: (883) 435-1820; Webinar ID: 1614966124
Online via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
* In-person only
Community Meeting 7:15p.m. 8:45 p.m.
In person: Monumental Baptist Church, located at 704 S Pkwy E in Memphis
By phone: Call in number: (883) 568-8864; Webinar ID: 1617052397
Online via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
EtO is a colorless, odorless gas that is often used for sterilization purposes. Inhalation of EtO at elevated levels over a lifetime can increase a person’s risk of getting cancer. However, single-day exposures to the concentrations found in residential communities are not an immediate threat to an individual’s health.
EPA has determined that portions of South Memphis neighborhoods in the vicinity of SST have an estimated lifetime cancer risk at or above 100 in a million. A lifetime cancer risk of 100 in a million means that, if 1 million people were exposed to this level of EtO in the air 24 hours a day for 70 years, 100 people would be expected to develop cancer from that exposure. The risk gradually increases as you get closer to the facility, reaching an estimated maximum of 2,000 in a million in areas closest to SST.
EPA will soon propose a new rule to limit EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers and will seek public input on the rule. In the meantime, the agency is working with SST and other sterilizers across the country on ways they can voluntarily control emissions to reduce risk.
BACKGROUND
EPA has regulated EtO emissions for 30 years, however in 2016, new scientific information revealed that EtO is more toxic than previously understood. This prompted EPA to conduct nationwide analyses and intensive data collection, which has revealed that certain communities near commercial sterilizers could have elevated cancer risks due to lifetime exposures to EtO. Please visit www.epa.gov/eto for additional information, including a link to view EPA’s August 10th National Public Webinar, location-specific maps, information about individual commercial sterilizers, and health risks for residents and workers.
For more information about EtO in Memphis, please visit: www.epa.gov/eto/memphis
###
USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Florida Disaster Areas
WASHINGTON, October 7, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that low-income Florida residents recovering from Hurricane Ian could be eligible for assistance from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
CBP Trade-Related Federal Register Notices – 2023
Agency Information Collection Activities: Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) and CTPAT Trade Compliance Program; 87 FR 60185 (October 4, 2022)
QB 22–306 2023 Specialty Sugar Period 2
COMMODITY:
Specialty Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
QUOTA PERIOD:
October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023
OPENING DATE:
Tuesday October 11, 2022 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) for all time zones.
(*October 10,…
Specialty Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
QUOTA PERIOD:
October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023
OPENING DATE:
Tuesday October 11, 2022 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) for all time zones.
(*October 10,…
CBP Modifies Withhold Release Order on Natchi Apparel (P) Ltd.
This modification takes place a month after CBP issued the WRO on July 29, 2022, representing swift and successful collaboration between civil society and worker rights organizations, Natchi Apparel (P) Ltd. and its parent company Eastman Exports,…
CBP signs Mutual Recognition Arrangement with Brazil
WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Brazil’s Customs Authority Receita Federal today signed an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). This MRA builds on other agreements between CBP and the…
QB 22-704 2022 Aluminum Absolute Quota Fourth Quarter Argentina
On May 31, 2018, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 providing for an absolute quota for imports of aluminum products from Argentina, effective for goods entered for consumption, or…
CBP Seizes Vehicle Smuggled from Mexico into Puerto Rico
The individual, a US citizen, purchased in Mexico a 2022 Suzuki “Jimny” and obtained Mexican plates driving the vehicle across the Southwest border all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. A US flagged ship transported the vehicle to Puerto Rico.…