EPA Seeks Input on Adding Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to the Toxic Release Inventory

On Dec. 4, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to seek information on a potential proposal to add certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to its list of toxic chemicals. Substances on the toxic chemicals list are required to be reported under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which is commonly referred to as the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program.

PFAS are man-made chemicals often used in industrial processes and consumer products. EPA estimates that approximately 600 PFAS have been or are currently being manufactured in the United States, and has concerns about the potential adverse human health effects as a result of exposure to some PFAS. If added to the toxic chemicals list, facilities that manufacture, process or use any of the listed PFAS in amounts above reporting threshold levels would be required to report their environmental releases and other waste management quantities of those chemicals annually.

EPA is seeking comments on which PFAS should be evaluated for listing, how to list them and what the appropriate reporting thresholds should be for the chemicals.

• Read the proposal and submit comments here.
• Comment deadline: Feb. 3, 2020.
• Advocacy contact: Tabby Zeb at (202) 205-6790 or email at tayyaba.zeb@sba.gov.