The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on draft risk assessments for five chemicals found in common household products. The chemicals and their uses are methylene chloride or dichloromethane (DCM) and n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in paint stripper products; trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser and a spray-on protective coating; antimony trioxide (ATO) as a synergist in halogenated flame retardants; and 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8,-hexamethylcyclopenta-[γ]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) as a fragrance ingredient in commercial and consumer products. 

Under authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA is in the process of reviewing 83 common chemicals that may impact people’s health or the environment. Last year, the EPA proposed regulating six flame retardant chemicals and phasing-out another chemical. Final action on those chemicals is expected later this year. Following public comment on the current list of five chemicals, the agency will seek an independent, scientific peer review of the assessments before pursuing final actions. Beyond placing warning labels on products to reduce public exposure, the EPA could take additional actions, such as requiring companies processing the chemicals to register with the EPA and secure approval in advance of producing a new product. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on draft risk assessments for five chemicals found in common household products. The chemicals and their uses are methylene chloride or dichloromethane (DCM) and n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in paint stripper products; trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser and a spray-on protective coating; antimony trioxide (ATO) as a synergist in halogenated flame retardants; and 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8,-hexamethylcyclopenta-[γ]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) as a fragrance ingredient in commercial and consumer products. 

Under authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA is in the process of reviewing 83 common chemicals that may impact people’s health or the environment. Last year, the EPA proposed regulating six flame retardant chemicals and phasing-out another chemical. Final action on those chemicals is expected later this year. Following public comment on the current list of five chemicals, the agency will seek an independent, scientific peer review of the assessments before pursuing final actions. Beyond placing warning labels on products to reduce public exposure, the EPA could take additional actions, such as requiring companies processing the chemicals to register with the EPA and secure approval in advance of producing a new product. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a simplified option for deducting the costs associated with having a home business office. The new optional approach is based on the amount of square feet being used for business purposes by the taxpayer. If it is 300 sq.-ft. or less, the taxpayer can claim a deduction of $5 per square foot (up to $1,500 per year). The existing approach is to fill out Form 8829, which may require complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation and carryovers of unused deductions. 

Under the new option, the taxpayer can still claim allowable mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses on the home as itemized deductions on Schedule A, but they cannot depreciate the portion of the home used for business. These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business use, as is required under the regular method. Current restrictions on the home office deduction, such as the requirement that a home office must be used regularly and exclusively for business, still apply under the new option, which is available starting with the 2013 return (filed in 2014).

For more information, visit the IRS website.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a simplified option for deducting the costs associated with having a home business office. The new optional approach is based on the amount of square feet being used for business purposes by the taxpayer. If it is 300 sq.-ft. or less, the taxpayer can claim a deduction of $5 per square foot (up to $1,500 per year). The existing approach is to fill out Form 8829, which may require complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation and carryovers of unused deductions. 

Under the new option, the taxpayer can still claim allowable mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses on the home as itemized deductions on Schedule A, but they cannot depreciate the portion of the home used for business. These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business use, as is required under the regular method. Current restrictions on the home office deduction, such as the requirement that a home office must be used regularly and exclusively for business, still apply under the new option, which is available starting with the 2013 return (filed in 2014).

For more information, visit the IRS website.

A bill to ban motor-vehicle exhaust systems that increase the noise level has been reintroduced in Vermont. Under the bill, violators would not pass the state’s required inspection and would be subject to fines. The measure does not provide an opportunity for vehicle hobbyists to install and use exhaust systems that meet an objective decibel limit under a fair and predictable test and would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill to ban motor-vehicle exhaust systems that increase the noise level has been reintroduced in Vermont. Under the bill, violators would not pass the state’s required inspection and would be subject to fines. The measure does not provide an opportunity for vehicle hobbyists to install and use exhaust systems that meet an objective decibel limit under a fair and predictable test and would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A bill to ban motor-vehicle exhaust systems that increase the noise level has been reintroduced in Vermont. Under the bill, violators would not pass the state’s required inspection and would be subject to fines. The measure does not provide an opportunity for vehicle hobbyists to install and use exhaust systems that meet an objective decibel limit under a fair and predictable test and would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A version of SEMA-model legislation has been reintroduced in the Washington State Senate to prohibit cities or towns from enforcing an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation or administrative practice that prevents automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Under the bill, six or fewer vehicles that are 30 years old or older, including one parts car, would be permitted for hobby vehicle restoration as long as restoration is an ancillary use of the property. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A version of SEMA-model legislation has been reintroduced in the Washington State Senate to prohibit cities or towns from enforcing an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation or administrative practice that prevents automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Under the bill, six or fewer vehicles that are 30 years old or older, including one parts car, would be permitted for hobby vehicle restoration as long as restoration is an ancillary use of the property. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A version of SEMA-model legislation has been reintroduced in the Washington State Senate to prohibit cities or towns from enforcing an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation or administrative practice that prevents automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles stored on private property would only require screening from public view. Under the bill, six or fewer vehicles that are 30 years old or older, including one parts car, would be permitted for hobby vehicle restoration as long as restoration is an ancillary use of the property. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.