G/TBT/N/USA/2110  
4 April 2024  
(24-2897) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if diff erent from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: EPA is seeking comment and information on specific issues regarding potential 
exposure to lead during manufacturing, processing (including recycling), distribution in 
commerce, use, or disposal of lead wheel weights, as well as informat ion on substitutes 
for lead wheel weights. This information will help inform the Agency's determinations 
regarding potential unreasonable risk to human health and the environment from 
exposure to lead wheel weights. If unreasonable risk is determined, EPA will initiate a 
proposed rulemaking under TSCA section 6(a) to address the unreasonable risk.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Lead for 
wheel -balancing weights ("lead wheel weights"); Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 
13.020); Recycling (ICS code(s): 13.030.50); Occupational safety. Industrial hygiene 
(ICS code(s): 13.100); Protection against dangerous goods (ICS code(s): 13.300); Road 
vehicles engineering (ICS code(s): 43); Production of metals (ICS code(s): 77.020); 
Chemical analysis of metals (ICS code(s): 77.040.30); Lead, zinc, tin and their alloys 
(ICS code(s): 77.120.60)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified docume nt: Lead Wheel 
Weights; Regulatory Investigation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); (3 
page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) - The 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is r equesting comments and 
information to assist in the potential development of regulations for the manufacture 
(including importing), processing (including recycling), and distribution in commerce of 
lead for wheel -balancing weights ("lead wheel weights") un der the Toxic Substances 
Control Act ( TSCA ). To inform this consideration, EPA is requesting comment and 
information from all stakeho lders on the use and exposure to lead from the manufacture 
(including importing), processing (including recycling), distribution in commerce, use, and 
disposal of lead wheel weights, as well as information on their substitutes, to help 
determine if there i s unreasonable risk to human health and the environment associated 
with this use. This action is relevant to a petition for a writ of mandamus filed in August 
2023, by the Ecology Center, Center for Environmental Health, United Parents Against G/TBT/N/USA/2110  
 
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  Lead & Other  Environmental Hazards, and Sierra Club in the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit requesting the court to direct EPA to conduct a rulemaking 
regulating lead wheel weights under TSCA.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of ur gent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of human health or safety; Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
89 Federal Register (FR) 22972, 3 April 2024; Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Part 751  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-03/html/2024 -06804.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-04-03/pdf/2024 -06804.pdf  
This ANPRM is identified by Docket Number EPA -HQ-OPPT-2024-0085. The Docket Folder 
is available from Regulations.gov  at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OPPT-
2024-0085/document  and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well 
as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Numb er. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments 
to the USA TBT Enquiry Point  by or before 4pm Eastern Time  on 3 May 2024. Comments 
received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeho lders will be 
shared with the EPA and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov  if 
received within the comment period.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  3 May 2024  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_02445_00_e.pdf