EPA is initiating the prioritization process for five chemical substances as candidates for designation as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation, according to a notice. The substances are 4-tert-Octylphenol, benzene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene and styrene.

An EPA final rule that amends the new chemicals procedural regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act takes effect Jan. 17. The changes include amendments increasing the quality of information submitted in new chemicals notices, and are expected to improve EPA's processes for effective and timely individual risk assessments as well as for new chemicals reviews, the agency said in a Federal Register notice.

The EPA will ban the import and manufacture of the chemical solvent trichloroethylene (TCE), according to a Federal Register notice. This final rule is effective Jan. 16.

An EPA final rule that becomes effective Jan. 17 will restrict and eventually ban the use of perchloroethylene (PCE), a chemical solvent often used in dry cleaning and degreasing, due to the "unreasonable risk of injury to health" when using the substance, it said in a Federal Register notice.

The EPA is proposing to issue significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 34 chemical substances, it said in a notice. Comments are due by Jan. 16. The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture, import or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity designated as a new use in the SNUR, EPA said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 31 chemical substances, it said in a notice. The rule is effective Feb. 10. The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture, import or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity designated as a new use in the SNUR, EPA said.

The EPA is proposing new reporting requirements for 35 chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors, it said in a notice published in the Dec. 2 Federal Register. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due by Jan. 2.

EPA recently announced 2025 allowances for production and consumption, including importation, of hydrofluorocarbons under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, as well as 2025 penalties for companies that didn’t comply with HFC phasedown regulations.

EPA may require manufacturers, importers and exporters of 30 chemical substances that are subject to premanufacture notices or microbial commercial activity notices under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to notify the agency at least 90 days ahead of time, it said in a notice on the proposed significant new use rules (SNUR).

The Environmental Protection Agency is launching a proposed rulemaking that will enable the agency to create a framework assessing the renewal or eligibility of applications that seek application-specific allowances amid EPA's efforts to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), it said in a Federal Register notice set for publication Sept. 16.