EPA unveils new rules to curb toxic emissions at U.S. chemical plants

• The administration also said the rules are part of President Biden's initiative to lower cancer levels in the U.S., which has been dubbed the "cancer moonshot."

The big picture: Around 104,000 people who live within roughly 6 miles of synthetic organic chemical plants face "elevated" cancer risks, according to EPA estimates.

• Those living near such facilities are disproportionately poor and are more likely to be Black.

Zoom in: The new rules primarily target two chemicals: ethylene oxide (EtO) and chloroprene, which are used at around 200 plants spread across Texas and Louisiana and other parts of the country.

• EtO is widely used for medical device sterilization and as a fumigant for certain food products, while chloroprene is used to make a variety of common polymers and resins.
• Long-term exposure to them have been shown to increase a person's risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma, leukemia and liver and lung cancers.

How it works: The new regulations will require companies to monitor for toxic emissions along a facility's boundary beginning at least two years from today.

• If a company detects emission levels that go above a limit set by the EPA, they will be required to find the source of the pollution and make repairs.
• The data gathered through the monitoring will be made public online by the EPA, the agency said.

What they're saying: EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement on Tuesday that the new rules will help communities like St. John the Baptist Parish west of New Orleans, which is home to one of the largest sources of chloroprene emissions in the country.

• "We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them," Regan said. "Today we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk, and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities."

Zoom out: The new rules are also meant to crack down on the emission of other common toxins, like benzene, which has a wide variety of uses, and ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride, which are primarily used in the production of PVC plastic.

• The administration said it also expects the rules to slash more than 6,200 tons of toxic air pollution and and 23,700 tons of smog-forming volatile organic compounds each year.

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Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the roughly 104,000 people with "elevated" cancer risk live within 6 miles of synthetic organic chemical plants (not within 6 miles of all facilities affected by the EPA's new rules).