Environmental Protection Agency June 23, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available to the public information related to a May 30, 2007 proposed rule under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program under section 612 of the Clean Air Act. The SNAP program reviews alternatives to Class I and Class II ozone-depleting substances and finds acceptable the use of alternatives that reduce the overall risk to public health and the environment. EPA proposed to list n- propyl bromide (nPB) as unacceptable for use as a substitute for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-113, methyl chloroform, and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141b in the adhesive and aerosol solvent end uses; and acceptable subject to use conditions (limited to coatings at facilities that, as of May 30, 2007, had provided EPA with information demonstrating their ability to maintain acceptable workplace exposures) as a substitute for methyl chloroform, CFC-113, and HCFC-141b in the coatings end use. The Agency has received additional information regarding the exposure levels of n-propyl bromide found in the workplace due to use of aerosols containing n- propyl bromide, as well as information on industry practices from aerosol suppliers and from a survey of a significant number of end users. The Agency is requesting comment on these materials. We plan to consider this information, and any comments received during the comment period on this notice of data availability, in determining what future action to take on our May 2007 proposal regarding the use of n-propyl bromide in aerosols.