Toxic Substance Control Act and Reporting

The Toxic Substances Control Act was promulgated on October 11, 1976, as 15 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. and is implemented under 40 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter R parts 700-799. The Act authorizes EPA to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded from TSCA, including, among others, food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides. On June 22, 2016, President Obama signed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which updates the Toxic Substances Control Act.

EPA promulgated the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) Rule in 1986 and amended it several times over the years. In August 2011, EPA changed the name from IUR to CDR, Chemical Data Reporting. Under the CDR rule, first reported in 2012, EPA collects manufacturing, processing, and use information from chemical manufacturers (including importers) on a subset of chemicals listed on the TSCA Inventory. The resulting Inventory database is a unique source of exposure-related data needed to put hazard data into context, in order to develop an understanding of potential chemical risks.

There are many aspects to TSCA regulations in addition to the CDR. Other major considerations are the need to submit a PMN prior to introducing a new chemical to the market and the restrictions that may be in place relating to the manufacturing or use of a specific chemical.

The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory) was established in 1979 to provide a comprehensive listing of chemical substances in commerce at the time. EPA continues to add new chemicals to the TSCA Inventory when companies submit a Notice of Commencement of Manufacture or Import following completion of Pre-manufacture Notification procedures. As such, the TSCA Inventory currently lists approximately 85,000 chemicals in commerce in the United States. For the most current list of chemicals, see EPA's How to Access the TSCA Inventory. Note, however, with the completion of the TSCA 'Reset', as part of Lautenberg, the number of chemicals currently listed as 'Active' is substantially less than the above. It is important a firm verifies their chemicals are listed as active. Trinity experts can assist in moving chemicals onto the active list.

Aside from the public Inventory, there is also a confidential inventory accessible only by EPA. The data in the confidential inventory comes from the same sources but contains substances whose identity was reported to EPA as confidential.

Who needs TSCA Services?

TSCA may apply to any industry or facility that manufactures and distributes through commerce, processes, uses, or disposes of a chemical substance. Federal facilities' operations typically involve the management of toxic substances regulated under TSCA. Toxic substances subject to TSCA regulation include PCBs, asbestos, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, and certain hexavalent chromium compounds, as well as other chemical substances identified by EPA.

Timing

Reporters need to submit one report per chemical substance. Subsequent reports continue in the same pattern every 4 years (The report in 2024 should include 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023).