EPA to Consider Small Business Input on Rulemakings for Methylene Chloride, 1-BP

EPA seeks small businesses, governments, and nonprofits to participate as “small entity representatives” for two Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panels: one for methylene chloride and one for 1-bromopropane, or 1-BP. The agency recently issued final risk evaluations that found “unreasonable” risks to workers and others associated with both chemicals under certain conditions of use. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA must draft regulations to protect public health from these risks. The purpose of SBAR panels is to gather input from small entities on EPA’s development of proposed rules to address the unreasonable risks identified in its evaluations. The panels include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and EPA. Small entity representatives provide advice and recommendations to SBAR panels regarding small business concerns about how the potential rules will affect their organizations.

Small processors, formulators, commercial users, or retailers of methylene chloride or 1-BP or products containing these chemicals are eligible to serve as small entity representatives. EPA prefers that these representatives be owners or operators of small businesses, small organization officials, or small government officials. Individuals who are interested in serving as small entity representatives for the upcoming SBAR panels must submit self-nominations by Sept. 30, 2020. Separate pages on EPA’s website provide further information about the panels for methylene chloride and 1-BP.

EPA’s final risk evaluation of 1-BP identifies unreasonable risks to workers associated with its uses as a solvent in industrial and commercial cleaning and degreasing, in adhesives and sealants, in dry cleaning and spot cleaning for clothing, and in several specialty spray and aerosol applications. The agency found unreasonable risks to workers from most commercial uses of methylene chloride, including in solvents for vapor degreasing, aerosol spray cleaners, adhesives, paint and coating remover, and automotive care products.