On March 17, EPA granted the voluntary cancellation and use termination
requests affecting virtually all residential uses of chromated copper
arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Under this action, affected CCA products
cannot be used after Dec. 30, 2003 to treat lumber intended for use
in most residential settings. This transition affects virtually all
residential uses of wood treated with CCA, including play structures,decks,
picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and
walkways/boardwalks.
This action was proposed in February 2002 by the registrants of CCA-pesticide
products used to treat wood. Phase-out of the residential uses will
reduce the potential exposure risks to arsenic, a known human carcinogen,
thereby protecting human health, especially children's health and
the environment.
The current action follows up on the February 2002 publication of
a notice of receipt of voluntary cancellation/use termination requests,
which also provided an opportunity for public comments to be submitted
to EPA. A notice of the cancellation order will be published shortly
in the Federal Register, and that document will include the Agency's
response to comments.
Consumers may continue to buy and use the treated CCA wood for as
long as it is available. The transition to using the new generation
treatment products is well underway. The Agency is deferring any action
on two uses involved in the termination requests, therefore wood used
in permanent wood foundations and fence posts for agricultural uses
may continue to be treated with CCA at this time.
EPA is working with the registrant community and other stakeholders
to ensure that safer, comparable alternatives will be available. EPA
is continuing its work on an ongoing comprehensive re-evaluation of
CCA-treated wood that has been underway as part of the Agency's effort
to reevaluate older pesticides to ensure that they meet current health
and safety standards. More information on CCA treated wood is available
at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/1file.htm