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May 29, 2018

EPA Schedules Public Meeting on Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products Final Rule Technical Issues

Lynn L. Bergeson

On May 24, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would be hosting a public meeting on June 28, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT) in Washington, D.C. regarding technical issues in the Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products Final Rule published on December 12, 2016.  83 Fed. Reg. 24104.  The Federal Register notice states that the meeting will “inform EPA’s potential development of a proposed rule to address … technical issues and to further align the rule requirements with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCM) Phase II program.”  EPA states that this meeting is open to the public but that the primary audience for this public meeting is Third Party Certifiers (TPC) and panel producers who contract with TPCs to certify composite wood products under the December 12, 2016, final rule. 

The notices states that EPA is most interested in receiving comments or questions on the specific technical issues that will be outlined on the meeting agenda including timing and ways to implement any changes should the agency decide to propose additional technical amendments; and other technical rule provisions that can help improve consistency with CARB’s regulation, improve clarity in the rule, and help improve overall implementation of the rule.  The meeting agenda will be available in the docket in advance of the meeting.  Registration is requested by June 22, 2018, and is available online.

More information on composite wood products under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is available on our blog.