WASHINGTON (02/06/06) -- The U.S. EPA has finalized amendments to its air toxics regulations for the plywood and composite wood products industry that will streamline requirements for demonstrating that an individual facility poses a low risk to public health. In addition, the Agency has finalized its reconsideration of certain aspects of the final rule in response to a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Integrity Project. 

The final amendments allow facilities to use approved emissions estimates rather than conduct emissions tests for some hard-to-test units, and allow facilities to demonstrate they are low-risk at any time, either before or after the compliance date. The amendments will not affect the impact of the standards.

The plywood and composite wood products industry manufactures plywood and veneer, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, hardboard, fiberboard, oriented strandboard and engineered wood products.