EPA Proposes Rule to Add Chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory
WASHINGTON (October 18, 2021) – Today, in support of its mission to protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule that would add 12 chemicals to the list of chemicals subject to Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements. EPA proposed the rule in response to a 2014 petition by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) requesting that the agency add certain chemicals to the TRI.
The 12 chemicals EPA is proposing to add are:
- dibutyltin dichloride;
- 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol;
- formamide;
- 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran;
- n-hydroxyethylethylenediamine;
- nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt;
- p-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenol;
- 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene;
- triglycidyl isocyanurate;
- tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate;
- tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate; and
- tris(dimethylphenol) phosphate.
EPA is also proposing that one of the chemicals, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran, be classified as a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemical and designated as a chemical of special concern with a 100-pound reporting threshold. PBT chemicals are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment for long periods of time and can build up in the body, posing potential risks for exposed populations.
The TRI is a resource for learning about annual chemical releases, waste management, and pollution prevention activities reported by nearly 21,000 industrial and federal facilities. When finalized, this rule will provide communities with important information about how these chemicals are being managed in their communities. This information can be especially important to fence line communities, communities near industrial uses of these chemicals where releases to water, air, or land could be of a greater impact.
Read more about the proposed rule.
Background
On May 6, 2014, EPA received a petition from TURI requesting the addition of 25 chemicals to the TRI. In today’s action EPA is proposing to list 12 of these chemicals. In separate, unrelated actions, three of the 25 chemicals (1-bromopropane, nonylphenol, and 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane) have already been added to the TRI chemical list. Of the remaining 10 chemicals, EPA has determined that there is insufficient toxicity information available to support the listing of nine chemicals. EPA anticipates that no reports would be filed for one chemical, octabromodiphenyl ether, since it is no longer in production in the United States and no use is expected, so it is not proposed for listing.