Category: Chemicals

Today’s workplace uses thousands of chemicals, many of which are hazardous. The resources in this section will help guide you in the safe and legal identification, storage, transport, and use of these chemicals, and in making sure that your employees right to know how to be safe around such substances is provided, as required by law.

Chemical manufacturing facility

TSCA Definition of Small Manufacturer Broadened by EPA

Stating that compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) places a particular burden on small businesses, the EPA has finalized a new definition of small manufacturer to include more entities. TSCA Section 8(a) generally excludes small manufacturers and processors of chemical substances from the reporting and recordkeeping […]

EPA Evaluation of Perchloroethylene (PCE) Reveals Many Risks

The EPA has released its Draft Risk Evaluation for Perchloroethylene for public comment and peer review. Perchloroethylene (also known as perc or PCE) is the last of the first 10 or priority chemicals for which the Agency must complete risk evaluations. Under the 2016 amendments to the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), all 10 […]

Group of men working at a chemical warehouse classifying barrels

The Ins and Outs of Chemical Compliance: Hazmat, HazCom, Hazardous Waste, and GHS

Chemical substances can have an assortment of labels and placards as they move through commerce and eventually end up as waste products. The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have regulatory authority during various points of transport, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous substances. The National Fire Protection […]

asbestos

EPA’s Draft Asbestos Evaluation Lists Unreasonable Risks, Legacy Uses Not Addressed

The EPA’s release of its Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos is a significant step in the Agency’s halting progress over more than 30 years to control the effects of one of the most carcinogenic substances in commercial use in the United States. The risk evaluation is a product of the 2016 amendments to the federal […]

Chemical data analysis and research

EPA Amends TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Requirements

According to the EPA, the Agency’s final rule amending the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) requirements under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has three primary objectives.

Pesticide spraying and application

EPA Revises Pesticide BE Method Under Endangered Species Act

Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the EPA is required to conduct biological evaluations (BEs) of pesticides to determine their effects on endangered and threatened species (listed species) and their critical habitats. The Agency has now issued a nonregulatory method for conducting BEs.

Refrigerants, fridge

HFC Refrigerant Requirements Relaxed by EPA

Following a second look at its authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the EPA has issued a final rule rescinding the leak-repair requirements of a 2016 rule the Obama EPA issued for refrigerants used to replace Class I or II ozone-depleting substances (ODSs).

Hazardous chemicals

What You Need to Know About the CSB Accident Reporting Rule

In one of its rare regulatory actions directly affecting the regulated community, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB or the Board) has issued a final rule requiring owners and operators of stationary sources to report information about accidental releases of hazardous substances to the CSB.

Drinking water

EPA Announces Three Actions Regarding PFAS

On February 20 and 24, 2020, the EPA announced three developments under its action plan for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS Action Plan).

Group of men working at a chemical warehouse classifying barrels

EPA Says CERCLA Financial Assurance Not Required for Chemical Companies

The EPA is moving steadily along its apparent path of concluding that it is not necessary to require that facilities in certain industrial sectors comply with the financial responsibility requirements of Section 108(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund). In its latest action, the Agency is proposing not to […]