The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on December 17 issued a Significant New Use Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act for Alkanes C12-13, chloro, a short-chain chlorinated paraffin along with other chlorinated paraffins. This SNUR requires manufacturers (including importers) and processors of SCCPs to notify EPA at least a 90 days before starting or resuming new uses of this chemical. This notification allows EPA the opportunity to evaluate the intended uses and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity.
SCCPs have been used as lubricants and coolants in metal cutting and metal forming operations.
We are committed to protecting all Americans from exposure to harmful chemicals used in domestic and imported products, said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. There must be a level playing field for U.S. businesses which is why were targeting harmful chemicals no longer used in the U.S. that find their way into commerce, sometimes through imported products. This final action will give EPA the opportunity to restrict or limit any new uses of these chemicals, including imported goods with these chemicals.
In 2012, EPA required companies to stop manufacturing and importing SCCPs and to pay fines as a result of an enforcement action. On August 22, 2012, EPA announced a settlement with INEOS Chlor Americas, Inc., requiring INEOS to pay $175,000 and end the importation of SCCPs into the United States, and to submit pre-manufacture notices under TSCA section 5 for any medium- and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs, LCCPs) it wishes to import.
On February 8, 2012: EPA announced a federal enforcement action requiring Dover Chemical to pay $1.4 million and to cease manufacturing short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and to submit pre-manufacture notices under TSCA section 5 to EPA for various MCCPs and LCCPs, which also are persistent and bioaccumulative. Dover has the last remaining domestic chlorinated paraffin manufacturing facilities.
