Project Description and Purpose. The EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) has developed a set of computerized risk screening tools that have the potential to significantly advance pollution prevention objectives. The Pollution Prevention (P2) Framework is an approach to risk screening that incorporates pollution prevention principles in the design and development of chemical substances. The objective of the P2 Framework approach is to inform decision making at early stages of new chemical product development and to promote the selection and application of safer chemical substances and processes. These methodologies have been developed over a 20-year period by EPA and others in the scientific community to screen new chemical substances in the absence of data. Annually, EPA evaluates approximately two thousand (2000) Pre-Manufacture Notifications (PMNs) that are submitted to the Agency pursuant to Section 5 of TSCA. The Act requires that persons who manufacture (or import) a new chemical substance provide such notice to EPA 90 days prior to commencing nonexempt commercial manufacture. However, the law does not require that the submitter conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of the new chemical substance. If the Agency does not take regulatory action within 90 days of receipt of the PMN, the submitter may manufacture that new chemical substance. Operating under this time limitation, and often lacking sufficient data, EPA has developed methods to quickly screen chemical substances in the absence of data. In an outreach effort to industry, the Agency is making the P2 Framework methodologies available and is demonstrating how these tools can help design safer chemical substances, reduce waste generation, and identify other P2 Framework opportunities. Industry response to the incorporation of EPA’s P2 Framework into the chemical development process has been positive. PPG proposes to apply the P2 Framework early in its new product development process to help it identify and develop products and processes that can be sustained both environmentally and economically. Applying the P2 Framework as a part of its new product development process, PPG will incorporate environmental and health information into the early stages of its chemical development operations as well as identify opportunities for pollution prevention. PPG is planning on using the P2 Framework at three Research and Development (R&D) facilities located at Monroeville, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Park, and Harmarville; all are located in the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. PPG believes many other companies can develop environmentally preferable products by applying the P2 Framework, especially at the R&D stage of product development. The use of the P2 Framework will assist PPG when it is designing new chemical substances and products by enabling PPG to conduct an analysis similar to that performed by EPA for each PMN that is submitted to EPA. PPG will incorporate information obtained from use of the P2 Framework methodologies into its TSCA Section 5 submissions. Unless the requirements for an exemption are met, a PMN submitter may not manufacture a new chemical substance until 90 days after it has submitted a PMN, even if information submitted to EPA indicates that the chemical substance will not present an unreasonable risk. However, when EPA determines during its initial review that a PMN chemical substance does not present an unreasonable risk to the environment or human health, the substance is not likely to be regulated by EPA. Therefore, PPG and EPA have agreed that, with respect to PMN substances that meet these criteria, based on PPG’s initial pre-submission screen of the PMN materials using the P2 Framework and EPA’s own review, PPG will be allowed to begin manufacture of such substances after 45 days rather than 90 days. For more detail on this issue see Section IV. B. of this Agreement, which includes a detailed description of the standards applicable to the availability of this administrative flexibility. PPG’s Project includes a series of innovative actions to help demonstrate to other chemical manufacturers how the P2 Framework can help develop products that are sustainable both environmentally and economically, while saving companies significant resources. This Project also includes several outreach initiatives for the purpose of promoting the use of the P2 Framework. Each initiative is designed to make other industry representatives aware of the source reduction, pollution prevention and economic benefits that can be realized by using the P2 Framework. PPG, in partnership with the EPA, is entering into this Project XL Agreement to (1) pilot the application of the P2 Framework, (2) validate selected P2 Framework models and (3) disseminate information about the P2 Framework to other chemical companies and industries. Each initiative is designed to make other industry representatives aware of the source reduction, pollution prevention and economic benefits that can be realized by using the P2 Framework. Potential environmental benefits of this Project include: ! potential health and environmental hazardous/risks as well as pollution prevention opportunities will be identified at an early stage in new product development by using the information obtained from the P2 Framework; ! the P2 Framework allows PPG to select fewer hazardous materials for use in a final product thereby reducing the production of both hazardous and solid waste materials; and ! the P2 Framework will give PPG the necessary tools to compare alternative product decisions involving chemical substances that lack environmental, health and safety data.
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Final Project Agreement
Project Description and Purpose. The EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) has developed a set of computerized risk screening tools that have the potential to significantly advance pollution prevention objectives. The Pollution Prevention (P2) Framework is an approach to risk screening that incorporates pollution prevention principles in the design and development of chemical substances. The objective of the P2 Framework approach is to inform decision making at early stages of new chemical product development and to promote the selection and application of safer chemical substances and processes. These methodologies have been developed over a 20-year period by EPA and others in the scientific community to screen new chemical substances in the absence of data. Annually, EPA evaluates approximately two thousand (2000) Pre-Manufacture Notifications (PMNs) that are submitted to the Agency pursuant to Section 5 of TSCA. The Act requires that persons who manufacture (or import) a new chemical substance provide such notice to EPA 90 days prior to commencing nonexempt commercial manufacture. However, the law does not require that the submitter conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the potential hazard and risk of the new chemical substance. If the Agency does not take regulatory regulation action within 90 days of receipt of the PMN, the submitter may manufacture that new chemical substance. Operating under this time limitation, and often lacking sufficient data, EPA has developed methods to quickly screen chemical substances in the absence of data. In an outreach effort to industry, the Agency is making the P2 Framework methodologies available and is demonstrating how these tools can help design safer chemical substances, reduce waste generation, and identify other P2 Framework opportunities. Industry response to the incorporation of EPA’s P2 Framework into the chemical development process has been positive. PPG proposes to apply the P2 Framework early in its new product development process to help it identify and develop products and processes that can be sustained both environmentally and economically. Applying the P2 Framework as a part of its new product development process, PPG will incorporate environmental and health information into the early stages of its chemical development operations as well as identify opportunities for pollution prevention. PPG is planning on using the P2 Framework at three Research and Development (R&D) facilities located at Monroeville, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Park, and Harmarville; all are located in the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. PPG believes many other companies can develop environmentally preferable products by applying the P2 Framework, especially at the R&D stage of product development. The use of the P2 Framework will assist PPG when it is designing new chemical substances and products by enabling PPG to conduct an analysis similar to that performed by EPA for each PMN that is submitted to EPA. PPG will incorporate information obtained from use of the P2 Framework methodologies into its TSCA Section 5 submissions. Unless the requirements for an exemption are met, a PMN submitter may not manufacture a new chemical substance until 90 days after it has submitted a PMN, even if information submitted to EPA indicates that the chemical substance will not present an unreasonable risk. However, when EPA determines during its initial review that a PMN chemical substance does not present an unreasonable risk to the environment or human health, the substance is not likely to be regulated by EPA. Therefore, PPG and EPA have agreed that, with respect to PMN substances that meet these criteria, based on PPG’s initial pre-submission screen of the PMN materials using the P2 Framework and EPA’s own review, PPG will be allowed to begin manufacture of such substances after 45 days rather than 90 days. For more detail on this issue see Section IV. B. of this Agreement, which includes a detailed description of the standards applicable to the availability of this administrative flexibility. PPG’s Project includes a series of innovative actions to help demonstrate to other chemical manufacturers how the P2 Framework can help develop products that are sustainable both environmentally and economically, while saving companies significant resources. This Project also includes several outreach initiatives for the purpose of promoting the use of the P2 Framework. Each initiative is designed to make other industry representatives aware of the source reduction, pollution prevention and economic benefits that can be realized by using the P2 Framework. PPG, in partnership with the EPA, is entering into this Project XL Agreement to (1) pilot the application of the P2 Framework, (2) validate selected P2 Framework models and (3) disseminate information about the P2 Framework to other chemical companies and industries. Each initiative is designed to make other industry representatives aware of the source reduction, pollution prevention and economic benefits that can be realized by using the P2 Framework. Potential environmental benefits of this Project include: ! potential health and environmental hazardous/risks as well as pollution prevention opportunities will be identified at an early stage in new product development by using the information obtained from the P2 Framework; ! the P2 Framework allows PPG to select fewer hazardous materials for use in a final product thereby reducing the production of both hazardous and solid waste materials; and ! the P2 Framework will give PPG the necessary tools to compare alternative product decisions involving chemical substances that lack environmental, health and safety data.see
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Final Project Agreement