EPA Amends Several TSCA Section 4 Test Orders for Chemicals Undergoing Risk Evaluation

As reported in our March 25, 2022, blog item, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 24, 2022, that it issued a second round of test orders under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to obtain additional data on eight of the next 20 chemicals undergoing risk evaluation. In April 2022, EPA issued corrections to the following test orders:

• 1,1,2-Trichloroethane: EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. According to EPA, Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. EPA states that this correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of 1,1,2-trichloroethane, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

• 1,2-Dichloroethane: EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. According to EPA, Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to 1,2-dichloroethane. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. EPA states that the correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of 1,2-dichloroethane, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of 1,2-dichloroethane.

• 1,2-Dichloropropane: EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to 1,2-dichloropropane. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. The correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of 1,2-dichloropropane, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of 1,2-dichloropropane.

• 4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA): EPA states that it amended the list of recipients to replace INEOS USA LLC with INEOS Enterprises US Holdco LLC. The effective date for INEOS Enterprises US Holdco LLC is five days after April 20, 2022, the date the memorandum was signed. The effective date for the companies listed in the original order issued on March 24, 2022, will remain March 29, 2022. EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to TBBPA. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. The correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of TBBPA, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of TBBPA.

• o-Dichlorobenzene: EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. EPA states that Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to o-dichlorobenzene. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. The correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of o-dichlorobenzene, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of o-dichlorobenzene.

• Phosphoric acid, triphenyl ester (TPP): EPA amended the list of recipients to replace Axalta Coating Systems LLC with ChemSpec Ltd. The effective date for ChemSpec Ltd is five days after April 20, 2022, the date the memorandum was signed. The effective date for the companies listed in the original order issued on March 24, 2022, will remain as March 29, 2022. EPA also amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. According to EPA, Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to TPP. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. The correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of TPP, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of TPP.

• Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene: EPA amended the list of recipients to add the companies listed below. The effective date for the order for these companies will be five days after April 20, 2022, when the modification was signed. The effective date of the order for the companies listed in the March 24, 2022, order will also have the effective date of five days from April 20, 2022, when the modification was signed (i.e., both the companies listed below and the companies in the order signed on March 24, 2022, for trans-1,2-dichloroethylene will have an effective date five days after April 20, 2022, the date the memorandum was signed):

  • Chemical Compounding Co;

  • Dow Inc;

  • MicroCare LLC;

  • Occidental Chemical Holding Corp;

  • Olin Corp; and

  • Versum Materials Inc.

EPA amended Appendix D -- Order Recipient Selection. Appendix D referred to p-dichlorobenzene, although it should have referred to trans-1,2-dichloroethylene. Appendix D only explains the process for identifying order recipients. EPA states that the correction does not change the obligations that apply to manufacturers and processors of trans-1,2- dichloroethylene, pursuant to TSCA Section 4(a)(2). EPA identified the recipients of the order through those sources related to manufacturers and processors of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene.