The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published two proposed rules concerning formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products in the June 10, 2013 Federal Register.  The proposed rules (see, copies attached) would establish federal standards for formaldehyde emissions from certain defined composite wood products (78 Federal Register No. 111 at p. 34820) as well as a framework for a third-party certification program for composite wood product panel producers (78 Federal Register No. 111 at p. 34796).

The proposed EPA rules would implement the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, which became law on July 7, 2010.That law, as discussed at MHARR Board meetings after its enactment, directed EPA to establish federal formaldehyde standards and related enforcement mechanisms for hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard that are identical to standards already adopted and enforced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).  Under the EPA proposal, enforcement of the new federal standards, at the component supplier level, would begin one year after publication of the final standards rule in the Federal Register.

As MHARR members have previously been informed, the Association will proceed to conduct a thorough review of these proposed rules — with a particular emphasis on cost-related issues and potential unintended consequences — and will submit appropriate comments to EPA on behalf of HUD Code industry manufacturers. Those comments will be filed ahead of the comment deadline, so that they can be accessed and referenced by any industry member or other interested party who wishes to do so as well.  Comments on both proposed rules are due on or before August 9, 2013. Additional self-explanatory information concerning the submission of comments by interested parties is contained in the first page of each proposed rule.

MHARR will continue to keep you updated as warranted during this review process.