List of Manufacturer-Requested Risk Evaluations under TSCA Section 6
TSCA allows chemical manufacturers to request an EPA-conducted risk evaluation of the chemical under 40 CFR 702.37. A manufacturer may request that EPA conduct a risk evaluation for conditions of use of interest to the manufacturer. Within 60 business days of the receipt of a facially complete request, EPA is required to submit the request for publication in the Federal Register, open a docket for the request, and provide a public comment period of no less than 45 calendar days. After the comment period closes the Agency has 60 calendar days to either grant or deny the request.
Learn more about manufacturer-requested risk evaluations.
On this page:
- Diisodecyl Phthalate (DIDP)
- Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)
- Octamethylcyclotetra- siloxane (D4)
- Octahydro-tetramethyl-naphthalenyl-ethanone Chemical Category (OTNE)
Diisodecyl Phthalate (DIDP)
On May 24, 2019, EPA received a request from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, through the American Chemistry Council’s High Phthalates Panel, to conduct a risk evaluation for diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP). On August 19, 2019, EPA opened a 45-day public comment period to gather information relevant to the requested risk evaluation. EPA reviewed the request (along with additional information received during the public comment period) and assessed whether the circumstances identified in the request constitute conditions of use under 40 CFR 702.33, and whether those conditions of use warrant inclusion within the scope of a risk evaluation for DIDP. EPA determined that the request meets the applicable regulatory criteria and requirements. The Agency granted the request on December 2, 2019.
EPA published for public comment the draft scope on November 27, 2020 in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0435. EPA published the final scope of the risk evaluation for DIDP on August 31, 2021.
- Read the docket for DIDP.
- Read the federal register notice.
- Read the supporting and decision documents for this request.
DIDP belongs to a family of chemicals called phthalates and is commonly used as a plasticizer in the production of plastic and plastic coating to increase flexibility. The request included two Chemical Abstract Registry Service Numbers (CASRNs), one of which was identified on the 2014 Update to the TSCA Work Plan (CASRN 26761-40-0).
Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)
On May 24, 2019, EPA received a request from the ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Evonik Corporation, and Teknor Apex, through the American Chemistry Council’s High Phthalates Panel, to conduct a risk evaluation for diisononyl phthalate (DINP). On August 19, 2019, EPA opened a 45-day public comment period to gather information relevant to the requested risk evaluation. EPA reviewed the request (along with additional information received during the public comment period) and assessed whether the circumstances identified in the request constitute conditions of use under 40 CFR 702.33, and whether those conditions of use warrant inclusion within the scope of a risk evaluation for DINP. EPA determined that the request meets the applicable regulatory criteria and requirements. The Agency granted the request on December 2, 2019.
EPA published for public comment the draft scope on November 27, 2020 in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0436 . EPA published the final scope of the risk evaluation for DINP on August 31, 2021.
- Read the docket for DINP.
- Read the federal register notice.
- Read the supporting and decision documents for this request.
DINP belongs to a family of chemicals called phthalates and is commonly used as a plasticizer in the production of plastic and plastic coating to increase flexibility. The request included two CASRNs, one of which was identified on the 2014 Update to the TSCA Work Plan (CASRN 28553-12-0).
Octamethylcyclotetra- siloxane (D4)
On March 19, 2020, EPA received a request from Dow Silicones Corporation, Elkem Silicones USA Corporation, Evonik Corporation, Momentive Performance Materials, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc., and Wacker Chemical Corporation through the American Chemistry Council’s Silicones Environmental, Health, and Safety Center (SEHSC), to conduct a risk evaluation for octamethylcyclotetra- siloxane (D4). On June 17, 2020, EPA opened a 45-day public comment period to gather information relevant to the requested risk evaluation. The Agency granted the request on October 6, 2020.
EPA published for public comment the draft scope on September 8, 2021 in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0443. EPA published the final scope of the risk evaluation for D4 on March 7, 2022.
- Read the docket for D4.
- Read the federal register notice.
- Read the supporting and decision documents for this request.
D4 is used to make other silicone chemicals and as an ingredient in some personal care products. D4 was identified in the 2014 Update to the TSCA Work Plan. In 2014, EPA issued an enforceable consent agreement for D4 requiring environmental testing data to help the agency better understand the potential effects of this chemical in the environment.
Octahydro-tetramethyl-naphthalenyl-ethanone Chemical Category (OTNE)
On November 20, 2020, EPA received an updated request from International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. (IFF), Privi Organics USA Corporation (Privi), and DRT America, Inc. (DRT), through the OTNE Consortium, to conduct a risk evaluation for four chemical substances as a category, the octahydro-tetramethyl-naphthalenyl-ethanone (OTNE) chemical category. The request was received on November 20, 2020, and EPA found the request to be facially complete on December 8, 2020.
EPA accepted public comments on the manufacturer request for risk evaluation of OTNE in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0738.
OTNE is used as a fragrance ingredient. The four chemical substances in this chemical category (CASRNs 54464-59-4, 54464-57-2, 68155-67-9, and 68155-66-8) were identified in the 2014 Update to the TSCA Work Plan.