All Knowledge & Insights By Date

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 6, 2026, the availability of the final risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). 91 Fed. Reg. 373. EPA states that it “used the best available science to prepare these final risk evaluations, and determined, based on the weight of scientific evidence,...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 5, 2026, the availability of the final risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 1,3-butadiene. 91 Fed. Reg. 264. EPA states in its December 31, 2025, press release that it found “potential unreasonable health risks for workers who breathe in this chemical at their jobs in 11 specific industrial settings.” As required by TSCA, EPA will now develop a risk management rule to protect workers from the...

On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and solicited public comment on an Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum (Draft Memorandum) to inform a revised draft risk evaluation for formaldehyde under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 90 Fed. Reg. 55726. EPA states that after further consideration of comments raised during the scientific peer review process, it is reconsidering the use of certain hazard values in the formaldehyde...

On November 19, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and requested comment on a draft risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 1,2-dichloroethane (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number® (CAS RN®) 107-06-2, also known as ethylene dichloride or EDC). 90 Fed. Reg. 52054. EPA notes that the purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health...

On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is rescheduling the November 18, 2025, preparatory meeting for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). The meeting to consider the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions for SACC’s peer review of EPA’s draft risk evaluation for octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) will now be held virtually on December 1, 2025. Registration for the meeting is open. To present oral comments during the...

As the federal government endures another prolonged shutdown, uncertainty is rippling through every agency, with the impact clearly visible at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With only a fraction of staff on duty and most routine operations halted, the chemical and pesticide regulatory landscape faces a new round of challenges in both the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). EPA’s September 29, 2025, contingency plan...

On Sept. 23, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed highly anticipated amendments to the procedural framework rule for conducting existing chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). When conducting a TSCA existing chemical risk evaluation, EPA must determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without considering costs or non-risk factors under the conditions of use (COU). As...

On September 23, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed highly anticipated amendments to the procedural framework rule for conducting existing chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 90 Fed. Reg. 45690. When conducting an existing chemical risk evaluation under TSCA, EPA must determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without considering costs or nonrisk factors, including...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 10, 2025, that it is seeking nominations of scientific and technical experts to be considered as ad hoc reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with the peer review of the draft risk evaluation of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that these nominations will help it select approximately seven to eight ad hoc reviewers to assist SACC with...

As reported in our May 30, 2025, blog item, on May 15, 2025, the Center for Environmental Accountability (CEA) filed a petition under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reconsider the 2024 final rule regarding procedures for chemical risk evaluation under TSCA and initiate a rulemaking to amend certain provisions in 40 C.F.R. Part 702, subpart B. According to CEA, the current process “has led to overly...