18/10/2023 at 10:30AM
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials will hold a hearing titled “Exposing EPA Efforts to Limit Chemicals Needed for Life-Saving Medical Devices and Other Essential Products.”
Witnesses:
- Peter Huntsman, President and CEO, Huntsman Corporation
- Chris Jahn, President and CEO, American Chemistry Council (ACC)
- Scott Whitaker, President and CEO, Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
- Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH; UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently promulgating at least one dozen regulatory or supplemental efforts that impact the chemical manufacturing sector. Some of these actions have been precipitated by litigation, some by executive order, and others are part of EPA initiated efforts through statute or the regulatory review process.
The EPA has taken recent action to strengthen regulations on ethylene oxide (EtO), chloroprene, particulate matter, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
On April 25, 2023, the EPA took two distinct actions affecting the SOCMI source category, proposing amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that apply to the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) source category and amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) that apply to the SOCMI (more commonly referred to as the HON) and Group I and II Polymers and Resins Industries. Specifically, the proposed amendments would address volatile organic compound leaks from SOCMI equipment and lower emission standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) and chloroprene.
On April 27, 2023, the EPA proposed amendments to the petroleum and chemical sectors, including for ethylene and MON products.