The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on December 20, 2019, the final list of high-priority chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to EPA, issuing the final list of these ‘next’ twenty 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 the safety of existing chemicals in the marketplace.” It is important to note that being designated as a high-priority chemical does not mean that a chemical is high risk.

The 20 chemicals consist of seven chlorinated solvents, six phthalates, four flame retardants, formaldehyde, a fragrance additive, and a polymer precursor:

1.  p-Dichlorobenzene;
2.  1,2-Dichloroethane;
3.  trans-1,2- Dichloroethylene;
4.  o-Dichlorobenzene;
5.  1,1,2-Trichloroethane;
6.  1,2-Dichloropropane;
7.  1,1-Dichloroethane;
8.  Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- dibutyl ester);
9.  Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) - 1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1- butyl 2(phenylmethyl) ester;
10.  Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) - (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester);
11.  Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP) - (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- bis-(2methylpropyl) ester);
12.  Dicyclohexyl phthalate;
13.  4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2, 6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA);
14.  Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP);
15.  Phosphoric acid, triphenyl ester (TPP);
16.  Ethylene dibromide;
17.  1,3-Butadiene;
18.  1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB);
19.  Formaldehyde; and
20.  Phthalic anhydride.

The next steps for these chemicals are outlined in TSCA’s process for risk evaluation. This first includes taking public comment on scoping documents for each of these 20 chemicals. By June 2020, EPA will finalize these scoping documents which will include the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations EPA expects to consider during each chemical’s risk evaluation. The agency will also take public comments on the draft risk evaluations for these chemicals and will finalize them after considering the public input the agency receives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Van Ness Feldman’s environmental attorneys actively monitor EPA actions, including those related to TSCA and chemical management.  If you have any questions regarding this recent notice of proposed rulemaking, please contact Dana Stotsky or Gwen Keyes Fleming.