The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) tells MHProNews that the organization has succeeded in winning a delay of the effective date(s) of the Formaldehyde Emissions Standards for Composite Wood Products final rule published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 2016.
The EPA announced the action yesterday in a notice, which fulfills the original request by MHARR for a delay.
As MHProNews covered earlier this week, the call came from MHARR President and CEO Mark Weiss, JD, during a May 1st meeting in Washington DC. That meeting was convened by the EPA to solicit comments from parties on a new rulemaking docket concerning regulations adopted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other laws that could be “repealed, replaced, or modified to make them less burdensome” in accordance with Executive Order (EO) 13777 issued by President Trump on February 24, 2017.
“We’re calling for the elimination of certification requirements for finished goods included in the final rule, which apply to manufactured housing producers but expressly exempt site-builders using the same materials,” said Weiss.
MHARR was the only manufactured housing industry organization to participate in the meeting and address the formaldehyde rule specifically in relation to manufactured homes.
MHARR also noted that the final formaldehyde rule published by EPA (during the last days of the Obama Administration) was significantly different from the proposed rule, published on June 10, 2013. In essence, the original rule stated that both manufactured homes and site-built homes would have been deemed “finished goods,” and subject to the certification requirements applicable.
In contrast, under the final rule, only manufactured homes and manufactured homebuilders are subject to those certification requirements and related regulatory compliance costs.
MHARR tells MHProNews that, in accordance with EPA’s delay notice with formal publication in the Federal Register expected on May 24, 2017, compliance dates for formaldehyde emission standards, recordkeeping, and labeling provisions would be extended until March 22, 2018. Import certification provisions would be extended until March 22, 2019, and laminated product producer provisions would be extended until March 22, 2024.
“MHARR will closely monitor this rulemaking, which is an integral part of the Trump Administration’s effort to reign-in or repeal federal regulations that eliminate jobs or inhibit job creation, or are otherwise outdated, unnecessary, ineffective, or unduly burdensome,” said MHARR President and CEO Mark Weiss, JD.
“As this proceeding goes forward, MHARR will continue to aggressively oppose any discriminatory mandates on manufactured housing, HUD Code manufacturers and/or manufactured homebuyers.”
The full announcement from MHARR is linked here. ##
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Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
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