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Press Advisory for Friday, September 2, 1994

Release Date: 09/06/94
Contact Information:

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1994

EPA PROPOSES NEW SOURCE AIR STANDARDS FOR THREE INDUSTRIES

EPA today announced three proposed new source performance standards to reduce air pollution from parts of the synthetic
organic chemical manufacturing, starch production and cold cleaning operations industries. The latter proposal is the first new
source rule allowing only a pollution prevention technique for compliance, instead of traditional "end-of-pipe" controls. Cold
cleaning machines use liquid solvents to clean equipment and parts. Aerospace, electronics, automotive and other industries
typically use these machines during the manufacturing process to clean such things as small metal parts and circuit boards for
computers. The proposal would reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 600 tons annually from over 11,000 cold
cleaning machines expected to be installed in the future. (VOCs are the prime ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone,
or smog, the nation's most pervasive air pollutant). The proposed cold cleaning standards are based on pollution prevention
techniques because they encourage the re-use of solvents, thereby minimizing the VOC emissions inherent in vapor loss to the
atmosphere. Another proposal would cut VOCs by 18,000 tons annually from approximately 42 chemical manufacturing
industry wastewater facilities expected to be built in the future. Wastewater is water that comes into contact with fluids used
during manufacturing, processing or maintenance operations within a chemical facility. The third proposal would significantly
decrease particulate pollution (dust) from 25 - 30 new starch production facilities anticipated to be installed in the future. Starch
is extracted from vegetables such as corn and wheat, and, after being dryed, is used in the production of paper, food products,
adhesives and other products. "New Source Performance Standards" (NSPS), issued under authority of Section 111 of the
Clean Air Act, authorize EPA to set direct federal emission or work practice standards, uniform nationwide, for various
categories of industry that emit substances which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. NSPS
apply only to new, modified or reconstructed plants or equipment. Since 1971, EPA has issued final NSPS for 58 different
industries. The three proposals will appear soon in the Federal Register, but will be computer-accessible earlier through EPA's
Electronic Bulletin Board at 919-541-5742 (backup number for access problems is 919-541-5384). For further technical
information on the wastewater proposal contact Bob Lucas at 919-541-0884; for information on the starch proposal contact
Bill Maxwell at 919-541-5430; on the cold cleaning contact Paul Almodovar at 919-541-0283.

EPA SUSPENDS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB

EPA has suspended one of the largest environmental testing labs in the nation, Analytical Technologies Laboratory, Inc.,
Phoenix, Ariz., to prevent the laboratory from doing any further federally-funded contract work. In violation of the federal Safe
Drinking Water Act, the company allegedly used faulty testing equipment and procedures and allegedly reported false test
results for analyses done for the Glendale, Ariz., municipal drinking water system. The company also tested drinking water in
the cities of Tempe and Mesa, Ariz. EPA is investigating other analyses done by the company that may

affect other programs that the agency oversees. The nationwide suspension, which is aimed at protecting the government's
immediate contract interests, will prevent the company from participating in future federal government contracts and grants. The
laboratory has not been found guilty of any offenses at this point and has the right to respond to the charges and request a
hearing before the Agency. If the charges are proven, they could lead to debarment, which usually means a company may not
receive federal contracts and grants for up to three years or longer, depending on the seriousness of the misconduct.

COURT STAYS EPA'S REVOCATION OF CERTAIN FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS FOR BENOMYL AND
TRIFLURALIN; EPA REINSTATES REGULATIONS

The Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ordered EPA to stay its June l994 revocation of food additive
tolerances for the pesticides benomyl in processed tomatoes products and raisins and for trifluralin in peppermint and spearmint
oil. EPA is announcing that it is carrying out the court order by reinstating the food additive tolerances for benomyl and
trifluralin which have been revoked since June 30. The stay order was issued on Aug. 24 pending judicial review of EPA's June
revocation action which included a denial of requests for a hearing by the registrants of the pesticides, DuPont (benomyl) and
DowElanco (trifluralin). In its Aug. 24 action, the court denied the petitioners motion for a summary reversal of the June
decision. EPA's June revocation action included revoking food additive tolerances for the pesticides mancozeb on bran of
wheat and phosmet on cottonseed oil. These revocation actions remain in effect and were not part of the court's Aug. 24
decision. EPA issued the revocation actions in June to carry out the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding its
interpretation of the Delaney clause. As a result of this reinstatement order, residues of benomyl and trifluralin in the specific
processed commodities named above are legal as long as they do not exceed the reinstated food additive regulations (50 parts
per million (ppm) for benomyl, two ppm for trifluralin). Should the court rule in favor upon review, however, EPA will revoke
these tolerances.

EPA PROPOSES NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

FOR LEAD-BASED PAINT ACTIVITIES

EPA is today releasing a proposal to establish a national program for training and accreditation of individuals and firms engaged
in lead-based paint activities. The training certification requirements proposed by the Agency will apply to lead-based paint
professionals conducting inspections, risk assessment, abatement and other lead-based paint activities in public housing and
private residences built before 1978 (target housing); public buildings such as daycare centers, schools and other facilities
frequented by children; and commercial buildings and superstructures, including facilities such as industrial warehouses, power
plants, bridges, watertowers and other structures that have been painted with lead-based paint. Under the proposal,
lead-based paint professionals conducting activities in target housing and public buildings are required to obtain training in the
job categories of inspector technician, risk assessor, supervisors, project planner/designer or worker. Individuals working in
commercial buildings and superstructures are required to be trained as workers or supervisors. To become certified, individuals
will be required to successfully complete the training and apply to EPA or an authorized state agency for certification. To
conduct certain lead-based paint activities, some individuals would also be required to meet

minimal education and/or experience requirements. There is a 60-day comment period on the proposed rule which appears in
today's Federal Register. For more information or a copy of the Federal Register Notice call the TSCA Hotline at
202-554-1404.

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