The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 329 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have not been imported, manufactured or processed for many years and are designated as inactive on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, it said in a final rule released Jan. 10. As a result of the SNURs, anyone planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect March 11.

EPA is extending the compliance date for an upcoming ban on residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems that exceed product-specific limits on the use of hydrofluorocarbons (see 2310240040). The Dec. 26 interim final rule allows one additional year, until Jan. 1, 2026, “solely for the installation of new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems using components manufactured or imported” before 2025, EPA said. “EPA is promulgating this action to mitigate the potential for significant stranded inventory in this subsector,” the agency said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is initiating the prioritization process for risk evaluations on five chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act. After it completes the prioritization process for the five chemicals -- acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, vinyl chloride and 4,4′-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) -- EPA will immediately begin the risk evaluation process for any chemicals it designates as high priority. Designations as low risk chemicals or the implementation of restrictions on chemicals designated as high-risk will pre-empt any state restrictions on the chemicals. Comments on risk prioritization for the five chemicals identified in the notice are due by March 18.

The Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule Dec. 18 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 24 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Feb. 16. The SNURs cover the following:

EPA is proposing to amend its recently issued restrictions on two persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals, decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)). The changes affect conditions for use and processing of the two chemicals, as well as certain exemptions from prohibitions on the chemicals and compliance dates for phase-outs. Comments are due Jan. 8.

A new partner government agency message set isn’t the only thing coming at the beginning of 2024 for hydrofluorocarbon imports. On that date, EPA also will be rolling out much reduced allocations for HFC importers, increasing scrutiny on importers, EPA officials said on a webinar Nov. 14.

EPA is proposing to ban all imports of trichloroethylene, as well as all manufacturing, use and distribution of the solvent, it said in an Oct. 31 notice. The effective date of the ban would depend on use, with the general ban taking effect six months after a final rule is published, but bans for some uses taking effect in seven to 50 years. Comments are due by Dec. 15.

The EPA will require importers and manufacturers to report on their use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for each year since 2011, it said in an Oct. 11 final rule. By May 13, 2025, importers and manufacturers must electronically submit information on uses, production volumes, byproducts, disposal, exposures, and existing information on environmental or health effects for any PFAS importers or manufactured since 2011. Small importers will have six months longer, until Nov. 13, 2025, EPA said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for 25 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors, it said in a notice released June 16. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due by July 20. The SNURs would cover the following chemical substances:

The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule April 10 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 28 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect June 12. The SNURs cover the following: