Environment

EPA Extension of Comment Period for Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Facility Emissions Proposal

🇺🇸United States··Proposed Rule·Low Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

Extends the public comment deadline for EPA’s proposed reconsideration of ethylene oxide emissions standards for sterilization facilities. The new deadline is May 15, 2026, instead of May 1, 2026. Sterilization facility operators, medical device companies, environmental groups, local communities, and other stakeholders now have two more weeks to submit written comments. Comments should reference Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0178, and confidential business information should not be submitted through Regulations.gov.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Extends the public comment deadline from May 1, 2026 to May 15, 2026.
  • Keeps the same docket number for submissions: EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0178.
  • Reminds commenters not to submit confidential business information through Regulations.gov.

Obligations

What this law requires

medium

Submit written comments on the proposed ethylene oxide sterilization-facility emissions reconsideration rule so that EPA receives them on or before May 15, 2026, if the commenter wants the comments considered during the extended comment period.

stakeholders submitting public commentssterilization facility operators submitting public commentsmedical device companies submitting public commentsenvironmental groups submitting public commentsmembers of local communities submitting public comments
EPA must receive written comments on or before May 15, 2026
reporting
medium

Identify all comment submissions with Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0178, including submissions made through Regulations.gov, email, mail, or fax.

persons or entities submitting comments to EPA
By the time the comment is submitted; comments are due May 15, 2026
reporting
high

Do not submit Confidential Business Information or other statutorily restricted information through Regulations.gov.

persons or entities submitting comments containing confidential business information
Applies whenever submitting comments; comments are due May 15, 2026
prohibition
high

Clearly mark any information claimed as Confidential Business Information, including marking the relevant portions of the submission and, for mailed digital storage media, marking the outside of the media and identifying the specific CBI electronically within the media.

persons or entities submitting confidential business information to EPA
At the time the CBI submission is made; comments are due May 15, 2026
disclosure
high

When submitting comments that include Confidential Business Information, also submit a separate copy of the comments with the CBI removed to the public docket using the public-comment procedures.

persons or entities submitting confidential business information to EPA
At the time of CBI-related comment submission; comments are due May 15, 2026
disclosure

Affected Parties

Sterilization facility operatorsMedical device manufacturers and supply chain companies+3 more…

Tags

ethylene oxide,air emissions,sterilization facilities