On July 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to designate five chemicals as high-priority substances for risk assessment under Section 6(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Prioritization Process
Prioritization is the first step under EPA’s authority to regulate existing chemicals currently on the market and in use. EPA’s proposed designations are not themselves a finding of risk. If EPA finalizes these designations, the agency will initiate risk evaluations for these chemicals to determine whether they present an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment under the TSCA conditions of use (the way the chemical is made and used), which the agency is required to complete within 3-3.5 years. If at the end of the risk evaluation process EPA determines that a chemical presents an unreasonable risk to health or the environment, the agency must begin the risk management process to take action to eliminate these unreasonable risks.
Chemicals Involved in the Proposal
- Acetaldehyde (CAS No. 75-07-0),
- Acrylonitrile (CAS No. 107-13-1),
- Benzenamine (CAS No. 62-53-3),
- Vinyl Chloride (CAS No. 75-01-4), and
- 4,4'-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CAS No. 101-14-4)
These chemicals are widely used in industrial production, and their potential health and environmental risks have drawn the attention of the EPA.
Expected Impact
The EPA notes that this proposal will not directly impact individuals or entities outside the agency, hence no assessment of potential incremental impacts was conducted. However, the proposal may indirectly affect industries involved in the manufacturing, import, distribution, and use of these chemicals. Relevant businesses and organizations should pay close attention to the outcomes of the subsequent risk assessments.
Public Comment Preparation
The EPA has opened a 90-day public comment period, encouraging stakeholders and the public to submit their opinions. When submitting comments, be careful not to include Confidential Business Information (CBI) via email or on websites, and clearly mark all confidential content according to EPA guidelines. Additionally, the EPA offers tips for preparing comments to help the public more effectively participate in the commenting process. For more details, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets
