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Monday January 21, 2019
Lawsuit Seeks to Prod EPA Movement on Paint-Stripper RuleA January 19 lawsuit in Vermont U.S. district court seeks to compel the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a rule on paint strippers with methylene chloride. The suit (bit.ly/2QY4p5f) references an EPA commitment last year (PSL, 5/21/18) to move quickly on finalizing the rule, which is under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It asserts that the delay violates that law.
The rulemaking originated in the Obama administration, including a 2014 EPA assessment that found numerous safety and health risks.
Plaintiffs are Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, and two private citizens. They cite acute and chronic hazards plus incident data.
California has a March 7 reporting deadline for requirements that makers of such products seek alternate chemicals (PSL, 1/7/19). CPSC updated its labeling guidance in early 2018 to better address acute inhalation risks (PSL, 3/26/18). |