EPA extends comment period on proposed revisions to chemical review process

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has extended until Aug. 8 the comment period for a proposed rule intended to “improve the efficiency” of the agency’s chemical review process.

Under the proposal – published on May 26 – EPA would establish amendments that align chemical review process rules with provisions in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act and went effect in June 2016. Among the amendments:

• Require EPA, after receiving a premanufacture, significant new use or microbial commercial activity notice, to “make a determination” on each notice received “before the submitter may commence manufacturing or processing of the chemical substance that is the subject of the notice.”
• Clarify the level of detail expected for the information that a submitter is required to include in a premanufacture notice, significant new use notice or exemption notice for the notice to be considered complete.
• Require EPA approval of an exemption notice before manufacture may begin.
• Making per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – also known as “forever chemicals” because they break down slowly over time – ineligible for low volume exemptions and low release and exposure exemptions.