A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes.
Bill: S.1903 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. (D-IL)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to amend its regulations to revise the standards for the emission of ethylene oxide. Specifically, regulations must be revised based on results from the National Center for Environmental Assessment report titled Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide.
The bill also requires revisions to apply maximum achievable control technology requirements to chamber exhaust vents. Maximum achievable control technology standards are established for sources of hazardous air pollutants to limit or control emissions. Additionally, the revisions must apply to area sources and major sources of ethylene oxide.
The EPA must carry out a residual risk assessment with respect to the revised standards.
Finally, the EPA must notify the public of violations under the revised standards, and failure to do so will result in an investigation to assess the health risks and prevent a future failure of notification.

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
 revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air 
                      Act, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ETHYLENE OXIDE EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the 
``Administrator'') shall amend subpart O of part 63 of title 40, Code 
of Federal Regulations--
            (1) to revise the standards for the emission of ethylene 
        oxide under that subpart based on the results described in the 
        report of the National Center for Environmental Assessment of 
        the Environmental Protection Agency entitled ``Evaluation of 
        the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide'' and dated 
        December 2016;
            (2) to apply maximum achievable control technology (within 
        the meaning of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.)) 
        requirements to chamber exhaust vents; and
            (3) to apply to area sources and major sources (as those 
        terms are defined in section 112(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 
        U.S.C. 7412(a))) of ethylene oxide.
    (b) Residual Risk Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the Administrator finalizes the revised standards required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out a residual risk 
assessment pursuant to section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 
U.S.C. 7412(f)(2)) with respect to the revised standards.
    (c) Notification.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        Administrator learns of a violation of the standards revised 
        under subsection (a), the Administrator shall notify the public 
        of the violation in a manner determined to be appropriate by 
        the Administrator.
            (2) Failure to notify.--If the Administrator fails to 
        notify the public under paragraph (1) by the end of the period 
        described in that paragraph, the Inspector General of the 
        Environmental Protection Agency shall carry out an 
        investigation to determine--
                    (A) the reason or reasons for which the 
                Administrator failed to notify the public;
                    (B) the public health risks associated with the 
                failure of the Administrator to notify the public; and
                    (C) any steps the Administrator should take to 
                ensure the Administrator meets the requirements 
                described in paragraph (1) in the future.
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