EPA Amends Formaldehyde Standards, Final Rule To Be Published

by | Nov 1, 2017 | News

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a direct final rule October 25 to update a few voluntary consensus standards in the rule governing formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products.

The direct final rule corrects the rule at 40 CFR 770.20(b) by allowing the formaldehyde emissions mill quality control test methods to correlate to either the ASTM E1333-14 test method, or if shown to be equivalent, the ASTM D6007-14 test method. This correlation was inadvertently omitted from the original final rule, EPA wrote.

The correction aligns the mill quality control testing requirements with the California Air Resources Board standards allowing mill quality control tests to be correlated to the less expensive ASTM D6007-14 test method.

These updates apply to emission testing methods and regulated composite wood product construction characteristics. The voluntary consensus standards were updated, withdrawn or superseded to because of new information, technology, and methodology, EPA wrote.

EPA’s final rule takes effect December 11, unless EPA receives adverse comments on it by November 9.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/epa-publishes-final-rule-fixes-place-formaldehyde-standards?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news

EPA Withdraws Final Rule Delay For Formaldehyde

by | Jul 7, 2017 | News

After receiving negative feedback from the industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew its Direct Final Rule Wednesday, removing delayed compliance dates for certain formaldehyde emissions standards on wood products.

“Since the direct final rule and proposed rule’s publication, EPA has received several comments on the proposed amendments to the compliance dates that the agency considers to be adverse,” the agency said.

Published in May, the Direct Final Rule gave the composite wood industry more time to comply with certain standards, including extending the deadline to meet emissions standards, record keeping provisions and labeling rules:
• Emissions, recordkeeping and labeling provisions – March 22, 2018
• Import certification – March 22, 2019
• Laminated products – March 22, 2024

The rule also proposes to extend the transitional period for CARB-certified third-party certifiers (TPCs) to March 22, 2019.

The EPA will instead proceed with a final rule based on its proposed rule published on May 24 after considering all public comments.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/epa-withdraws-final-rule-delay-formaldehyde?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news