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PA EPA REMOVES FIRST TOXIC AIR POLL. FROM CAA REGUL. LIST

Release Date: 06/14/96
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PA EPA REMOVES FIRST TOXIC AIR POLL. FROM CAA REGUL. LIST

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1996

EPA REMOVES FIRST TOXIC AIR POLLUTANT FROM CLEAN AIR ACT REGULATORY LIST

EPA has made a final decision, based on the latest scientific evidence, to remove a substance called caprolactam from the list of 189 air pollutants that Congress required EPA to regulate under the air toxics provision of Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This is the first pollutant EPA has removed from the regulatory list. Basing its decision on a review of all available scientific health studies, EPA has concluded that emissions of caprolactam, used primarily in the manufacture of synthetic nylon fiber, pose little, if any, threat to public health or the environment. Today's action will provide significant regulatory relief to about ten nylon manufacturing facilities nationwide, as well as to industries that purchase nylon fiber and use it to produce carpet or textiles. These facilities will no longer be subject to federal air toxic regulations based solely on the presence of caprolactam on the Clean Air Act list of toxic air pollutants. EPA proposed removal of caprolactam from the toxic list in September 1995; the Agency then held a public hearing and addressed all public comments on the proposal before making a final decision. Today's action will appear soon in the Federal Register, but will be computer-accessible immediately through EPA's electronic bulletin board system, the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at 919-541-5742 (backup number for access problems is 919-541-5384) under "Recently Signed Rules" on the TTN's Clean Air Act Amendments bulletin board. (For further technical information, contact either Jack Edwardson at 919-541-4003 or Dr. Nancy Pate at 919-541-5347 of EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.)

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