Archives

February 26, 2020

Comments on Draft Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene Due April 27

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 26, 2020, announcing the availability of the draft risk evaluation for trichloroethylene (TCE), “a chemical used as a solvent and an intermediate for refrigerant manufacture in industrial and commercial processes, and with limited consumers uses like as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities.”  85 Fed. Reg. 11079.  EPA assessed 54 conditions of use of...
February 24, 2020

EPA Releases Draft Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on February 21, 2020, the draft risk evaluation for trichloroethylene (TCE), “a chemical used as a solvent and an intermediate for refrigerant manufacture in industrial and commercial processes, and with limited consumers uses like as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities.”  EPA assessed 54 conditions of use of TCE, and the draft risk evaluation includes the following findings: EPA notes that the draft risk...
February 20, 2020

EPA Publishes Final List of Low-Priority Chemicals for Risk Evaluation under TSCA

On February 20, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a list of 20 chemical substances identified as low-priority for risk evaluation under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), completing another TSCA requirement.  EPA notes that a final designation as “low-priority” means that risk evaluations are not warranted at this time.  EPA states that it considered reasonably available information for each chemical substance under its...
February 10, 2020

EPA Will Host Conference Call on TSCA Fees Obligations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a conference call on February 24, 2020, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. (EST) to review certain provisions of the final rule on fees for the administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  In light of the recent publication of the preliminary list of manufacturers/importers subject to risk evaluation fees, as reported in our January 29, 2020, blog item, EPA states that it will give a brief overview of the...
January 30, 2020

Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of Carbon Tetrachloride Due March 27, 2020

On January 24, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the draft risk evaluation of carbon tetrachloride, “a solvent primarily used in the manufacturing of chlorinated compounds and petrochemicals.”  Carbon tetrachloride is the seventh of the first ten chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  EPA published a Federal Register notice on January 27, 2020, announcing the availability of the draft...
January 29, 2020

Comments on Preliminary Lists Identifying Manufacturers Subject to Fee Obligations for EPA-Initiated Risk Evaluations under TSCA Section 6 Are Due March 27

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice on January 27, 2020, identifying the preliminary lists of manufacturers (including importers) of the 20 chemical substances that EPA designated as high-priority substances for risk evaluation and for which fees will be charged.  85 Fed. Reg. 4661.  During the comment period, manufacturers (including importers) are required to self-identify as manufacturers of a high-priority substance irrespective of whether...
January 15, 2020

EPA Announces January 22, 2020, Webinar on Reducing Vertebrate Animal Testing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 15, 2020, that it is partnering with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Physicians for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) to host public webinars on various topics related to reducing, refining, or replacing vertebrate animal testing.  A webinar will be held on January 22, 2020, covering the use and application of the Collaborative Acute Toxicity Modeling Suite (CATMoS), a free resource for screening organic...
December 20, 2019

EPA Publishes Final List of 20 High-Priority Chemicals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on December 20, 2019, the final list of high-priority chemicals.  These chemicals will be the next 20 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  According to EPA, issuing the final list of high-priority chemicals for risk evaluation “represents the final step in the prioritization process outlined in TSCA and marks another major TSCA milestone for EPA in its efforts to ensure...
December 20, 2019

NAS Will Peer Review EPA’s TSCA Systematic Review Approach

By Lynn L. Bergeson On December 13, 2019, EPA announced that it has contracted the National Academies of Science (NAS) to conduct a peer review of its Application of Systematic Review in TSCA Risk Evaluations. According to EPA, this review will help provide it with important feedback on its approach to selecting and reviewing the scientific studies that are used to inform Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluations. EPA states that “integrating systematic review principles...
December 18, 2019

EPA Extends Comment Period for Draft Risk Evaluation for NMP

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on December 18, 2019, that it is extending the public comment period for the draft risk evaluation of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) to give stakeholders more time to review and comment on the draft document.  Comments are now due January 21, 2020.  EPA states that it will use feedback received from the public comment process, along with input from the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC), to inform the final risk...