The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 6, 2020, that the first set of draft scope documents for the next group of chemicals undergoing risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is available for comment.  As reported in our December 20, 2019, memorandum, EPA designated these chemicals as a high priority for risk evaluation in December 2019.  According to EPA, seeking public input on the conditions of use to be included in the risk evaluations for these chemicals is the next step in the process outlined in TSCA.  EPA states that “it is important to note that being designated as a high-priority chemical does not mean that a chemical is high risk.”

EPA is releasing draft scope documents for 13 of the next 20 chemicals undergoing risk evaluation:

• p-Dichlorobenzene;

• 1,2-Dichloroethane;

• trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene;

• o-Dichlorobenzene;

• 1,1,2-Trichloroethane;

• 1,2-Dichloropropane;

• 1,1-Dichloroethane;

• 4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA);

• Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP);

• Phosphoric acid, triphenyl ester (TPP);

• Ethylene dibromide;

• 1,3-Butadiene; and

• 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB).

EPA will publish a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the draft scope documents for public comment.  Publication of the notice will begin a 45-day comment period.  EPA states that it will use feedback received from the public comment process to inform the final scope documents.  More information on the first batch of draft scope documents will be available in a forthcoming memorandum that will be posted on our website.