Epa Says 'many' Carbon Nanotubes May Require New Tsca Reviews

摘要

EPA is reiterating its long-standing belief that "many" carbon nanotubes (CNTs) - one of the most promising and widely used nanomaterials - may require new regulatory reviews under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a move that signifies a new agency emphasis on the materials, sources say. The agency published a notice in the Federal Register Oct. 31 clarifying that manufacturers or importers of products containing the material should file TSCA premanufacture notices (PMNs) for the products. EPA normally requires PMNs - which may require disclosure of risk and other information - for "new" products that it plans to regulate under the toxics law, and the notices allow the agency to review and potentially delay or place stipulations on the use of the material. The notice is available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details. The PMN must be filed at least 90 days before manufacturing begins, and EPA plans to begin compliance monitoring this spring. "Some time after March 1, 2009, EPA anticipates focusing its compliance monitoring efforts to determine if companies are complying with TSCA section 5 requirements for carbon nanotubes," the notice says. One informed source says the notice appears to signify a new emphasis on CNT. EPA likely suspects that there are many CNT manufacturers that are not filing the necessary PMNs, and the notice is an effort to make it clear that the agency intends to enforce the requirement, the source says.