The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prepared to publish the final rule for national formaldehyde standards for composite wood products like particle board, hardwood plywood and MDF board (medium-density fiberboard), as the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) tells MHProNews.

The final EPA standards are important for manufactured housing because the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must revise its own MH standards to comply with the new directive.

Since the new standards require more restrictive emissions criteria as well as higher costs for composite wood products used in all homes, MHARR says the existing HUD formaldehyde standards should be repealed, as should the red formaldehyde currently mandated by HUD. The removal of these two current standards would save money for the industry and consumers.

MHARR says that HUD will likely initiate its own rulemaking to reflect the new EPA requirements, at which time MHARR will thoroughly review the EPA final rule as well as HUD’s rulemaking process. It should be noted also that in accordance with the requirements of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, HUD must present this matter to the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee for its consideration. ##

(Photo credit: 123RF–medium-density fiberboard sample)

Article submitted by Matthew J Silver to Daily Business News-MHProNews.