EPA denies formaldehyde petition

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EPA denies formaldehyde petition

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today

6/23/2008

Furniture Today - Greensboro,NC*

http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/CA6572449.html?

industryid=23187 & industry=Manufacturing

But will still look at possible national standard

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declined a

petition spearheaded by the Sierra Club requesting that California's

formaldehyde emissions rule become a national standard.

Gulliford, assistant administrator for the Office of

Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, declined the request

over the weekend, said EPA press officer Dale Kemery.

He said the petition was declined because the agency did not have

enough information to conduct an analysis under the Toxic Substances

Control Act, which would give it the authority to regulate

engineered wood.

The petition requested that EPA adopt nationally a California

regulation to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood

products, and that it extend the rule to include composite wood

products in manufactured homes.

California's new rules, which begin taking effect in phases starting

Jan. 1, will restrict emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood

panels, which are commonly used in furniture.

Even though it declined the petition, the EPA said it will start

looking at a possible national formaldehyde standard this fall. It

plans to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the first

stage in the process.

" EPA is launching a broad effort to gain a greater scientific

understanding of the potential health risks of formaldehyde's use in

pressed wood products, " the agency said in a statement today.

" Through this process, EPA will develop risk assessments on the

potential adverse health effects, evaluate the costs and benefits of

possible control technologies and approaches, and determine whether

EPA action is needed to address any identified risks. "