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: 117-s-1903
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-05-27
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Air quality

Cancer

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Environmental regulatory procedures

Environmental technology

Government information and archives

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Industrial facilities

Manufacturing
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S3899)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>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 <em>Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide</em>.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The EPA must carry out a residual risk assessment with respect to the revised standards.</p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1903 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Duckworth ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 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.

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.