EPA Opens Comment on a Potential HAP List Change
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed granting a petition from The Dow Chemical Company to delete 2-Butoxyethyl benzoate (2-BEB) from the glycol ethers category of the Clean Air Act list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This proposed rule was published in the Federal Register with a public comment period ending Feb. 20, 2026.
On Sept. 30, 2019, Dow submitted its petition to EPA seeking removal of 2-BEB from the HAP list, arguing the designation discouraged its use even when it could replace more hazardous chemicals and that available data supported a delisting. After providing additional information and later completing EPA’s completeness review, the agency initiated its technical review.
In the current proposal, EPA preliminarily determined there are adequate health and environmental effects data to support removal and that emissions and related pathways “may not reasonably be anticipated” to cause adverse human health or environmental effects under the delisting criteria. EPA said the action reflects a review of the best available data on 2-BEB, a coalescing solvent and plasticizer used in paints, coatings, printing inks, adhesives and other products.
The public comment docket is identified as EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0392, and comments must be submitted by Feb. 20, 2026. EPA may hold a virtual public hearing if requested.
Read other PCI news regarding Dow and recent regulation news:
Trump Grants HON Rule Exemption to Dow and Others
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