G/TBT/N/USA/1529/Rev.1  
22 May 2023  
(23-3475) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Revision  
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 (Articles 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 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Emissions 
of hazardous air pollutants; Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Air quality 
(ICS code(s): 1 3.040); Environmental testing (ICS code(s): 19.040); Industrial process 
measurement and control (ICS code(s): 25.040.40); Production in the chemical industry 
(ICS code(s): 71.020); Equipment for the chemical industry (ICS code(s): 71.120); Wood 
technology processes (ICS code(s): 79.020); Wood -based panels (ICS code(s): 79.060)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  National 
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and Composite Wood Products; 
(32 page(s), in Eng lish) 
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants (NESHAP) for Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP), as required by  
the Clean Air Act (CAA). To ensure that all emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) 
from sources in the source category are regulated, the EPA is proposing HAP standards 
for processes currently unregulated for total HAP (including acetaldehyde, acrole in, 
formaldehyde, methanol, phenol, propionaldehyde), non -mercury (non -Hg) HAP metals, 
mercury (Hg), hydrogen chloride (HCl), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), 
dioxin/furan (D/F), and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The standards the EPA is 
proposing include emission limitations and work practices applicable for PCWP process 
units and lumber kilns located at facilities that are major sources of HAP emissions. This 
proposal responds to the 2007 partial remand and vacatur of portions of the 2004 PCWP 
NESHAP in which the EPA previously concluded maximum achievable control technology 
was represented by no control (i.e., no emissions reduction). This proposal also responds 
to or requests comment on issues raised in a petition for reconsideration the EPA received G/TBT/N/USA/1529/Rev.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  regarding the technology review and other amendments to the PCWP NESHAP the EPA 
finalized on 13 August 2020.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of the environment   
8. Relevant documents:  88 Federal Register (FR) 31856, 18 May 2023; Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 63:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-18/htm l/2023 -10067.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-18/pdf/2023 -10067.pdf  
Public hearing: If anyone contacts the EPA requesting a public hearing on or before 2 3 
May 2023, we will hold a virtual public hearing. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
information on requesting and registering for a public hearing.  
This proposed rule and previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/1529  are 
identified by Docket Number EPA -HQ-OAR-2016-0243. The Docket Folder is available 
from Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OAR-2016-
0243/document  and provide access to primary and supporting documents as well as 
comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Number. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO 
Members and their stakeholders by 4pm Eastern Time  on 3 July 2023 will be shared with 
the regulator 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 July 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone or fax 
numbers  and email and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_09716_00_e.pdf