Activists File Tsca Petition For Epa Indoor Air Formaldehyde Rules

摘要

The Sierra Club is asking EPA to regulate under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) the level of formaldehyde in engineered wood sold as products for residential use, an effort that appears aimed at circumventing the agency's statutory prohibition on regulating indoor air. If successful, the Sierra Club petition could allow the agency to take a preliminary step to reducing indoor air pollution by regulating formaldehyde-considered a 'probable' carcinogen-from hardwood, particle board and plywood at levels equivalent to those in a landmark California air toxics rule which took effect April 21. In a TSCA petition filed late last month, the Sierra Club says EPA has authority to protect the public from residential, indoor-air exposure to formaldehyde under section 6 of TSCA. EPA is statutorily precluded from regulating indoor air in most cases, but the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rule applies to emissions from finished products, not specifically to indoor air, so the Sierra Club argues that EPA could adopt the same rule under TSCA. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details.