Proposed rule · 2026-05167

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review Reconsideration

On April 5, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review (2024 Final Rule). The 2024 Final Rule revised the Commercial Sterilization Facilities NESHAP based on a residual risk and technology review (RTR) pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA) sections. On March 12, 2025, the EPA announced that it was reconsidering the 2024 Final Rule. Based on its reconsideration of the RTR in the 2024 Final Rule, the EPA is proposing to amend the Commercial Sterilization Facilities NESHAP. The amendments would rescind the risk based standards, revise the standard for new aeration room vents that resulted from the technology review, revise the compliance demonstration requirements, and rescind a requirement related to permanent total enclosure (PTE). This proposal also includes technical corrections and clarifications to the Commercial Sterilization Facilities NESHAP and Performance Specification 19 to address erroneous cross-references, omissions of text, and typographical errors in the regulatory text that the EPA has identified after publication of the 2024 Final Rule.