I-US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) iphakamise ukuvinjelwa cishe kukho konke ukusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane, eyaziwa nangokuthi i-dichloromethane, isithako esivame ukusetshenziswa ekuxazululeni nasekucubunguleni. Ukuvinjelwa okuphakanyisiwe kuzoba nomthelela omkhulu ezimbonini eziningi, ngamakhemikhali akhiqizwa noma angeniswe ngaphakathi angamakhilogremu ayi-100 kuya kwangu-250 ngo-2019. Ukusetshenziswa okumbalwa okusele, okuhlanganisa ukusetshenziswa njenge-reagent yokukhiqizwa kwe-HFC-32, kuzoba ngaphansi kwemikhawulo eqinile kunezindinganiso zamanje ze-OSHA.
I-EPA imemezele ukuvinjelwa okuhlongozwayo kanye nemikhawulo emthethweni ohlongozwayo oshicilelwe ngoMeyi 3, 2023, 83 Fed. rejista. 28284. Lesi siphakamiso sizovimbela zonke ezinye izindlela zokusebenzisa i-dichloromethane ngabathengi. Noma yikuphi ukusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane ezimbonini nakwezentengiselwano, okuhlanganisa noketshezi lokudlulisa ukushisa noma olunye usizo lwenqubo, kanye nokusetshenziswa okuningi njengesinyibilikisi, nakho kuzovinjelwa, ngaphandle kokusetshenziswa okuyishumi okukhethekile, okubili kwakho okukhethekile kakhulu. Ukusetshenziswa okuvinjelwe nokungafakwanga ohlwini kubhalwe ekupheleni kwalesi sixwayiso. Imithetho emisha yokusetshenziswa ebalulekile esikhathini esizayo ingase ihlanganise ukusetshenziswa okungafakwanga kunoma yiluphi uhlu.
Ukusetshenziswa okuyishumi okungambozwanga yilo mthetho kuzoqala isidingo sokusebenzisa uhlelo lokuvikela amakhemikhali emsebenzini (i-WCPP) olusekelwe kuzinga le-OSHA le-methylene chloride, kodwa ngemikhawulo yokuchayeka kwamakhemikhali ekhona ephansi ngo-92% kunalokho okuvumela i-OSHA.
Abantu abanentshisekelo banesikhathi kuze kube nguJulayi 3, 2023 sokuthumela imibono ngomthetho ohlongozwayo. I-EPA icele imibono ngezihloko ezingu-44, okuhlanganisa nokuthi ngabe imfuneko ye-WCPP kufanele ithathe indawo yokuvinjelwa kokusetshenziswa okuthile nokuthi kungenzeka yini ukuthi kube nesheduli yokuvinjelwa okusheshayo. I-EPA iphinde yacela imibono ngokuthi ngabe noma yikuphi ukusetshenziswa okuvinjelwe kufanelekela ukusetshenziswa okubucayi noma okubalulekile, njengoba kungekho ezinye izindlela eziphephile ezitholakalayo.
Lesi siphakamiso sesibili esiphakanyiswe yi-EPA ngamakhemikhali ayishumi abalulekile angaphansi kokuhlolwa kwengozi ngaphansi kweSigaba 6 soMthetho Wokulawula Izinto Ezinobuthi (TSCA). Okokuqala, lesi siphakamiso sokuvimbela konke okunye ukusetshenziswa kwe-chrysotile. Umthetho wesithathu uphathelene ne-perchlorethylene, ebilokhu ibukezwa yiHhovisi Lokuphatha kanye Nesabelomali (OMB) kusukela mhla zingama-23 kuNhlolanja 2023. Kusukela mhla zingama-20 kuNdasa 2023, umthetho wokugcina we-chrysotile (bheka isixwayiso sethu) ungaphansi kokubuyekezwa kwe-OMB.
Ukuhlolwa kwengozi kukaJuni 2020 kwathola izingozi ezingadingekile kuzo zonke izimo ngaphandle kweziyisithupha lapho kwakusetshenziswa khona i-methylene chloride. Zonke eziyisithupha manje zivela ohlwini lwemigomo yokusebenzisa ehlongozwayo ngokuya ngezidingo ze-WCPP. Incazelo ebuyekeziwe kaNovemba 2022 yengozi ibonise ukuthi i-dichloromethane ibeka ingozi engafanele iyonke, kanye nesimo esisodwa kuphela sokusetshenziswa (ukusatshalaliswa kwezentengiselwano) esingafaneleki encazelweni. Ukuvinjelwa okuhlongozwayo kuzofaka phakathi ukusatshalaliswa kwezentengiselwano ngezinjongo ezingavunyelwe, kodwa hhayi ukusetshenziswa okuhambisana ne-WCPP. Njengoba kutholakale ukuthi i-dichloromethane ibeka ingozi engafanele, iSigaba 6(a) se-TSCA manje sidinga i-EPA ukuthi yamukele imithetho yokuphathwa kwengozi yamakhemikhali ngezinga elidingekayo ukuze ingasabeki ingozi enjalo.
I-EPA yayivimbele abathengi ngaphambilini ekusebenziseni i-methylene chloride ukususa upende kanye nokumbozwa, 40 CFR § 751.105. I-EPA okwamanje iphakamisa ukuvimbela konke ukusetshenziswa kwabathengi okungahlanganiswanga yisigaba 751.105, okuhlanganisa ukukhiqizwa, ukucubungula, kanye nokusatshalaliswa kwezentengiselwano kwe-methylene chloride kanye nemikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride ngalezi zinhloso.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, i-EPA iphakamisa ukuvimbela konke ukusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane ezimbonini nakwezentengiselwano okungahambisani nezimfuneko ze-WCPP, okuhlanganisa ukukhiqiza, ukucubungula, ukusatshalaliswa kwezentengiselwano, kanye nokusetshenziswa ngaphansi kwalezi zimo zokusetshenziswa.
Isiphetho salesi sixwayiso sibala izimo ezingu-45 zezimboni, zezentengiselwano, kanye nezabathengi okuhlongozwayo ukuthi zivinjelwe. Lolu hlu luthathwe ku-2020 Risk Assessment. Ngaphezu kwalokho, i-EPA ihlela ukwamukela i-SNUR (SNUR) ebalulekile ezosebenza kunoma iyiphi i-dichloromethane noma imikhiqizo equkethe i-dichloromethane engafakwanga ekuhlolweni kwengozi. I-ajenda yokulawula eyanyatheliswa ngoJanuwari ibikezela i-SNUR ehlongozwayo ngo-Ephreli 2023 (i-EPA isivele iphuthelwe yilolo suku) kanye ne-SNUR yokugcina ngoMashi 2024.
I-EPA ilinganisela ukuthi lokhu kuvinjelwa kuzobalelwa cishe ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu zokukhiqizwa kwe-methylene chloride yonyaka noma ukungeniswa kwe-TSCA kanye nokunye ukusetshenziswa.
[Umthetho ohlongozwayo] ngeke usebenze kunoma iyiphi into engafakwanga encazelweni “yamakhemikhali” ngaphansi kweSigaba 3(2)(B)(ii)-(vi) se-TSCA. Lokhu okungafakwanga kufaka phakathi, kodwa akukhawulelwe ku… noma yikuphi ukudla, isengezo sokudla, umuthi, izimonyo, noma idivayisi, njengoba kuchaziwe eSigabeni 201 soMthetho Wokudla, Izidakamizwa, kanye Nezimonyo Kahulumeni, lapho kwenziwa, kucutshungulwa, noma kusatshalaliswa ngezinjongo zokuhweba. . ukuze kusetshenziswe ekudleni, izithasiselo zokudla, imithi, izimonyo noma imishini…
Ngokuphathelene nezinamathiselo ekukhiqizweni kwamabhethri ahloselwe ukusetshenziswa kwezokwelapha, njengoba kuchaziwe esigabeni 201(h) soMthetho Wokudla, Izidakamizwa, kanye Nezimonyo Kahulumeni, lokho kusetshenziswa okucacisiwe okufaneleka ngokuthi “amadivayisi” uma “kukhiqizwa, kucutshungulwa, noma kusatshalaliswa ukuze kusetshenziswe njengedivayisi” kuzosuswa encazelweni yegama elithi “amakhemikhali” ngakho-ke ngeke kube ngaphansi komthethonqubo uma kuthuthukiswa.
Ukusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane njengoketshezi olusebenzayo ohlelweni oluvaliwe enqubweni yemithi kudinga ukusetshenziswa kwayo njengesithako sokukhipha ekuhlanzweni kwemithi, futhi i-[EPA] iphethe ngokuthi lokhu kusetshenziswa kuwela ngaphansi kokungafani nezincazelo ezingenhla, hhayi "amakhemikhali" ngokusho kwe-TSCA.
Ukuvinjelwa kwezikhuthazo ezivimbela ukugcinwa kwe-methylene chloride kanye nemikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride. I-EPA icela ukuphawula ngokuthi ngabe kudingeka isikhathi esengeziwe, isibonelo, ukuhlanza iziteshi zokusabalalisa zemikhiqizo evinjelwe. Njengoba kunikezwe isicelo sokuphawula manje, i-EPA ingase ingabi nesithakazelo esikhulu ekucabangeleni izicelo zokwelulwa kolwazi ngosuku oluzayo.
Njengoba kuboniswe yizimo zokusetshenziswa ezivinjelwe ezingu-45, i-methylene chloride isetshenziswa ezimbonini eziningi, okuhlanganisa nesinyibilikisi kanye nosizo lokucubungula. Ngenxa yalokho, lesi siphakamiso, uma siphothulwa, sizothinta izimboni eziningi. Ukuhlolwa Kwengozi ka-2020 kugqamisa ezinye izindawo zokusetshenziswa:
I-Dichloromethane inokusetshenziswa okubanzi, okuhlanganisa izinto zokuvala, imikhiqizo yezimoto, kanye nezinto zokususa upende nokufaka upende. I-Dichloromethane yaziwa kakhulu njenge-process solvent kuma-paint thinners kanye nasezisetshenzisweni zemithi kanye ne-film coating. Isetshenziswa njenge-ejenti yokufutha ye-polyurethane kanye nasekukhiqizweni kwama-refrigerant e-hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) njenge-HFC-32. Itholakala futhi kuma-propellant e-aerosol kanye ne-solvents esetshenziswa ekukhiqizeni izinto zikagesi, ekuhlanzeni nasekususeni amafutha ensimbi, kanye nasekuqedeni ifenisha.
Ithemba lokuvimbela ukusetshenziswa okuningi kwe-methylene chloride liphakamisa imibuzo ephuthumayo mayelana nezinye izindlela ezisebenzayo. I-EPA ibheka le nkinga lapho ihlola ezinye izindlela, ezichazwe esethulweni kanje:
Ukuze kunqunywe imigomo yokusetshenziswa kwemikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride njengamanje, i-EPA ithole amakhulu ezinhlobo ze-non-methylene chloride ezitholakala ezitolo futhi, ngezinga okungenzeka ngalo, ibhale ukwakheka kwamakhemikhali noma izithako zazo ezihlukile ku-Alternatives Assessment.
I-EPA ithole imikhiqizo engu-65 ehlukile esigabeni sokususa upende nokumboza, lapho ukuqeda ifenisha kuyisigaba esincane (bheka u-48). Njengoba kuphawuliwe ekuhlaziyweni kwezomnotho, yize kungezona zonke lezi mikhiqizo ehlukile ezingafanelekela izinjongo ezithile zezicelo ezithile zokulungisa ifenisha, izindlela zemishini noma zokushisa zingase zibe ezinye izindlela ezingezona ezamakhemikhali zokusebenzisa imikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride yokususa upende nokumboza. … …I-EPA ikholelwa ukuthi kunezinye izindlela zobuchwepheshe nezomnotho ezisebenza kahle emakethe…
[A] Ezinye izindlela ezingasetshenziswa esikhundleni se-methylene chloride ezingabonwa njengezinsiza zokucubungula. I-EPA icela ulwazi ngezindlela ezingase zisetshenziswe esikhundleni sezinsiza zokucubungula i-methylene chloride njengoba zihlobene nezinketho zokulawula eziphakanyisiwe ngaphansi kwalesi Sivumelwano.
Ukuntuleka kwezindlela ezikhethiwe ezingasetshenziswa njengezithasiselo kuyinkinga engaba khona. I-EPA ichaza imigomo yokusebenzisa kanje:
Ukusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane ezimbonini noma kwezentengiselwano ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kwenqubo noma imishini yokucubungula, noma lapho i-dichloromethane ingezwa enqubweni noma entweni noma engxubeni ukuze iphathwe ukushintsha noma ukuvimba i-pH yento noma ingxube. I-ejenti yokwelapha ayibi yingxenye yomkhiqizo wokusabela futhi ayithinti umsebenzi wento noma into ephumayo.
I-Dichloromethane isetshenziswa “njengesengezo senqubo” futhi isetshenziswa njengendawo yokudlulisa ukushisa ezinhlelweni ezivaliwe. Umthetho ohlongozwayo uzovimbela futhi lokhu kusetshenziswa kwe-dichloromethane naphezu kwamandla ayo aphansi okuvezwa. Kodwa-ke, isethulo siyanezela:
I-EPA icele imibono ngezinga ezinye izinhlangano ezisebenzisa i-methylene chloride njengosizo lokucubungula ezizolandela ngalo imfuneko ye-WCPP ehlongozwayo ye-methylene chloride. Uma izinhlangano eziningana zingabonisa ngokuhlanganiswa kwedatha yokuqapha kanye nezincazelo zenqubo ukuthi ukusetshenziswa okuqhubekayo kwe-methylene chloride akubavezi abasebenzi engcupheni engafanele, i-EPA iqinisekisa ukuzimisela kwayo ukuphothula umthethonqubo lapho izimo [isb. ukusetshenziswa njengendawo yokudlulisa ukushisa] noma izimo ezijwayelekile zokusebenzisa [njengosizo lokucubungula] zingaqhubeka khona ngokuhambisana ne-WCPP…
Ngakho-ke, izinkampani ezisebenzisa i-methylene chloride ezisetshenziswayo ezinomthelela ophansi, njengoketshezi lokudlulisa ukushisa, zinenketho yokucela i-EPA ukuthi ishintshe ukuvinjelwa okuhlongozwayo kokusetshenziswa okunjalo ukuze kudingeke ukuqaliswa kwe-WCPP—uma nje zingabonisa i-EPA ukuthi zingahambisana nezimfuneko ze-WCCP okuxoxwe ngazo ngezansi. I-Environmental Protection Agency nayo yathi:
Uma i-EPA ingakwazi ukuhlonza noma yiziphi ezinye izindlela zokusebenzisa lesi simo futhi inganikezi ulwazi olwengeziwe ukuze i-EPA ikwazi ukunquma ukuthi i-WCPP isusa ingozi engafanele, i-Appropriate Disposition.
Isigaba 6(d) sidinga ukuthi i-EPA ifune ukuthobela imithetho ngokushesha okukhulu, kodwa kungakapheli iminyaka emi-5 ngemuva kokukhishwa komthetho wokugcina. Ngamanye amazwi, ukusetshenziswa okunjalo kungafanelekela ukwelulwa kwesikhathi sokuthobela imithetho.
Ngemibandela eyishumi yokusetshenziswa ebhalwe ngezansi, okuhlanganisa ukukhiqizwa nokucubungula ukukhiqiza i-HFC-32, ukuphinda kusetshenziswe kanye nokulahla, i-EPA iphakamise Ukulawulwa Kokuchayeka Emsebenzini (okungukuthi i-WCPP) njengendlela ehlukile yokuvinjelwa. Izinyathelo zokulawula zifaka phakathi izidingo zemikhawulo yokuchayeka, izindawo ezilawulwayo, ukuqapha ukuchayeka (okuhlanganisa nezidingo zokuqapha ezintsha ngokuhambisana nomkhuba omuhle webhubhoratri), imikhuba yokuthobela imithetho, ukuvikelwa kokuphefumula, ukuvikelwa kwesikhumba, kanye nemfundo. Le mithetho inezela indinganiso ye-OSHA methylene chloride 29 CFR § 1910.1052, kodwa isekelwe kakhulu kuleyo ndinganiso ngoshintsho olulodwa olubalulekile.
Izindinganiso ze-OSHA (ezamukelwa ekuqaleni ngo-1997) zinomkhawulo wokuvezwa ovumelekile (i-PEL) ongu-25 ppm (isilinganiso esilinganiselwe samahora angu-8 (i-TWA)) kanye nomkhawulo wokuvezwa wesikhathi esifushane (i-STEL) ongu-125 ppm (i-TWA yemizuzu engu-15). Uma kuqhathaniswa, umkhawulo wokuvezwa kwamakhemikhali we-TSCA (i-ECEL) wamanje ungu-2 ppm (i-TWA yamahora angu-8) kanti i-STEL ingu-16 ppm (i-TWA yemizuzu engu-15). Ngakho-ke i-ECEL ingu-8% kuphela we-OSHA PEL kanti i-EPA STEL izoba ngu-12.8% we-OSHA STEL. Amazinga okulawula kufanele asetshenziswe ngokuhambisana ne-ECEL kanye ne-STEL, lapho izilawuli zobuchwepheshe ziyinto eza kuqala kanye nokusetshenziswa kwemishini yokuzivikela yomuntu siqu kuyindlela yokugcina.
Lokhu kusho ukuthi abantu abahlangabezana nezidingo ze-OSHA bangase bangahlangabezani ne-ECEL ne-STEL enconyiwe. Ukungabaza ngekhono lokuhlangabezana nale mikhawulo yokuchayeka kuyisici esiholele i-EPA ekuvimbeleni ukusetshenziswa kwe-methylene chloride kanye nemikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride ezimbonini nakwezentengiselwano.
Ngaphezu kokusetshenziswa kokukhiqiza nokucubungula okubalwe, imibandela ye-WCPP iyasebenza nasekulahlweni nasekucutshungulweni kwe-methylene chloride nemikhiqizo equkethe i-methylene chloride. Ngenxa yalokho, izinkampani zokulahla imfucuza kanye nabasebenzisa kabusha imfucuza okungenzeka ukuthi abajwayelene nezidingo ze-TSCA kuzodingeka badlule ezindinganisweni ze-OSHA.
Njengoba kunikezwe ububanzi bokuvinjelwa okuhlongozwayo kanye nenani lezimboni zabasebenzisi ezingathinteka, imibono ngalo mthetho ohlongozwayo ingaba yinto ebaluleke kakhulu kunokujwayelekile. Imibono izothunyelwa ku-EPA ngoJulayi 3, 2023. Isethulo sincoma ukuthi izinhlangano zithumele imibono ngezidingo zamaphepha ngqo ku-OMB ngoJuni 2, 2023.
Ngaphambi kokuphawula, izinkampani kanye nezinhlangano zezohwebo (ngokombono wamalungu azo) zingase zifise ukucabangela okulandelayo:
Abahlaziyi bangase bafune ukucacisa ukusetshenziswa kwabo kwe-methylene chloride, izilawuli zabo zobunjiniyela ukuze banciphise ukuvezwa, uhlelo lwamanje lokuhambisana ne-OSHA methylene chloride, imiphumela yokuqapha inhlanzeko yezimboni ye-methylene chloride (nokuthi iqhathaniswa kanjani nokuqhathaniswa kwe-ECEL vs. STEL). ; izinkinga zobuchwepheshe ezihlobene nokuhlonza noma ukushintshela kwenye indlela esikhundleni se-methylene chloride yokusetshenziswa kwabo; usuku abangashintshela ngalo kwenye indlela (uma kungenzeka); kanye nokubaluleka kokusebenzisa kwabo i-methylene chloride.
Amazwana anjalo angasekela ukwelulwa kwesikhathi sokuthobela imithetho yokusetshenziswa kwayo, noma imfuneko ye-EPA yokukhulula ukusetshenziswa okuthile kwe-methylene chloride ekuvinjelweni ngaphansi kweSigaba 6(g) se-TSCA. Isigaba 6(g)(1) sithi:
Uma umphathi ethola ukuthi…
(A) ukusetshenziswa okucacisiwe kuyizinto ezibalulekile noma ezingasetshenziswa ngendlela ephephile ngokwezobuchwepheshe nangokwezomnotho, kucatshangelwa izingozi kanye nemiphumela;
(B) ukuhambisana nesidingo esisebenza ezimweni ezithile zokusetshenziswa kungenzeka kuphazamise kakhulu umnotho wezwe, ukuphepha kwezwe, noma ingqalasizinda ebalulekile; noma
(C) Izimo ezibekiwe zokusetshenziswa kwamakhemikhali noma ingxube zinikeza inzuzo ebalulekile yezempilo, ezemvelo noma ukuphepha komphakathi uma kuqhathaniswa nezinye izindlela ezitholakalayo.
Faka imibandela, okuhlanganisa nokugcinwa kwamarekhodi okunengqondo, ukuqapha kanye nezidingo zokubika, kuze kufike ezingeni lapho uMphathi enquma ukuthi le mibandela iyadingeka ukuvikela impilo kanye nemvelo ngenkathi kuhlangatshezwana nenhloso yokukhululwa.
Isandulelo sithi i-EPA izocabangela ukuhoxisa iSigaba 6(g) uma kungekho ezinye izindlela ezisebenzayo futhi ukuhlangabezana nezidingo ze-WCPP akunakwenzeka:
Ngaphandle kwalokho, uma i-EPA ingakwazi ukunquma enye indlela yalesi simo sokusetshenziswa [njengendlela yokudlulisa ukushisa] futhi, ngokusekelwe olwazini olusha, i-EPA inquma ukuthi ukuvinjelwa kokusetshenziswa kuzothinta kakhulu ukuphepha kwezwe noma ingqalasizinda ebalulekile, i-Ejensi i-EPA izobuyekeza ukukhululwa kwe-TSCA Section 6(g).
Abahlaziyi bangabonisa ukuthi bangakwazi yini ukuhlangabezana nezidingo ze-WCPP, futhi uma kungenjalo, ukuthi yiziphi izidingo zokudalulwa ezikhawulelwe abangahlangabezana nazo.
Isixwayiso: Ngenxa yohlobo olujwayelekile lwalesi sibuyekezo, ulwazi olunikezwe lapha lungase lungasebenzi kuzo zonke izimo, futhi akufanele lusetshenziswe ngaphandle kweseluleko esithile sezomthetho ngokusekelwe esimweni sakho esithile.
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