Risk Management for Existing Chemicals under TSCA
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) gives EPA the authority to take action to address unreasonable risks to public health or the environment from chemicals currently on the market. If at the end of the risk evaluation process EPA determines that a chemical presents an unreasonable risk to health or the environment, the agency must immediately start the risk management process to reduce or eliminate these risks.
Input from all stakeholders is critical to the risk management process. EPA is committed to developing risk management actions for chemicals in a way that is transparent and includes proactive, meaningful outreach and education with the public and other stakeholders.
On this page:
- Current risk management activities
- Meetings, webinars, and other engagement opportunities
- Overview of public and stakeholder engagement opportunities
- Overview of risk management process
On other pages:
Current Risk Management Activities
Click on the links below to learn more about recent EPA actions to reduce or eliminate unreasonable risks from the following chemicals. You can also view the list of upcoming meetings and webinars on risk management to learn more about EPA's current risk management activities.
- Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos
- 1-Bromopropane
- 1,4-Dioxane
- Carbon tetrachloride
- C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29)
- Cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD)
- Methylene chloride
- n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)
- Perchloroethylene
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals under TSCA section 6(h)
- Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE)
- Phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1))
- 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP)
- Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
- Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP)
Meetings, Webinars, and Other Engagement Opportunities
Upcoming Dates
|
Date/Time |
Meeting Title |
Additional Information |
|
January 15, 2025 12:30 p.m. EST |
Webinar on Final Perchloroethylene Risk Management Rule |
Past Dates
| Date/Time | Meeting Title | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2024 | Webinar on Proposed Regulation of 1-Bromopropane | |
| June 20, 2024 | Webinar on Proposed Regulation of n-Methylpyrrolidone under TSCA Section 6(a) | |
| June 4, 2024 | Webinar on Final Methylene Chloride Risk Management Rule | |
|
November 14, 2023 |
Webinar on Proposed Regulation of Trichloroethylene under TSCA Section 6(a) | |
| July 19, 2023 | Webinar on Proposed Regulation of Perchloroethylene under TSCA Section 6(a) | |
|
June 7, 2023 1:00 p.m. EDT |
Webinar on Proposed Regulation of Methylene Chloride under TSCA Section 6(a) | |
|
September 16, 2020 10 am - 5 pm EST |
Public Webinar: Methylene Chloride Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
|
September 30, 2020 10 am - 5 pm EST |
Public Webinar: 1-Bromopropane Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| September 30, 2020 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panels | |
|
November 12, 2020 2 pm – 4:30 pm EDT |
Tribal consultation: Technical briefing and comment period on methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane (Meeting #1) |
Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
|
November 16, 2020 2 pm - 4:30 pm EDT |
Environmental justice consultation on methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane (Meeting #1) |
View the agenda and slides for the consultation. Two identical consultation sessions were conducted, and both covered both chemicals. |
|
November 17, 2020 1 pm – 3:30 pm EDT |
Tribal consultation: Technical briefing and comment period on methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane (Meeting #2 – repeat of prior meeting) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
|
November 19, 2020 1 pm – 3:30 pm EDT |
Environmental justice consultation on methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane (Meeting #2) |
View the agenda and slides for the consultation. Two identical consultation sessions were conducted, and both covered both chemicals. |
|
November 20, 2020 1 pm – 3:00 pm EDT |
Public Webinar: HBCD Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| November 23, 2020 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for HBCD | SBAR Panel for HBCD |
|
December 10, 2020 1 pm - 3 pm EST |
Public Webinar: Carbon Tetrachloride Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| December 14, 2020 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for Carbon Tetrachloride | SBAR Panel for Carbon Tetrachloride |
| December 14, 2020 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for TCE | SBAR Panel for TCE |
|
December 15, 2020 1 pm-3 pm EST |
Public Webinar: TCE Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
|
January 14, 2021 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST |
Public Webinar: Perchloroethylene Risk Evaluation and Management | |
| January 18, 2021 | Deadline for submitting written comments for environmental justice consultations for methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane | |
| January 19, 2021 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panels | |
| February 2, 2021 | Public Webinar: 1,4-Dioxane Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| February 2, 2021 | Environmental justice consultations on HBCD and carbon tetrachloride (Meeting #1) |
Two identical consultation sessions were conducted, and both covered both chemicals. |
| February 3, 2021 | Public Webinar: Asbestos Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| February 18, 2021 | Environmental justice consultations on HBCD and carbon tetrachloride (Meeting #2) |
View the consultation materials. Two identical consultation sessions were conducted, and both covered both chemicals. |
| February 23, 2021 | Public Webinar: C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| February 24, 2021 | Public Webinar: NMP Risk Evaluation and Risk Management | |
| February 25, 2021 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos | SBAR panel for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos |
| March 5, 2021 | Deadline for self-nominations for Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for PV29 | SBAR panel for PV29 |
|
May 24, 2021 |
Tribal Consultation #1: Technical briefing and comment period on Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
| June 1, 2021 | Environmental justice consultation on Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) (Meeting #1) |
Risk management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) |
| June 3, 2021 | Tribal Consultation #2: Technical briefing and comment period on Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
|
June 9, 2021 |
Environmental justice consultation on Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) (Meeting #2 – repeat of prior meeting) |
Risk management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos and C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) |
| June 14, 2021 | Tribal Consultation #1: Technical briefing and comment period on n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
| June 15, 2021 | Tribal Consultation #1: Technical briefing and comment period on Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
| June 16, 2021 | Environmental justice consultation on Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) (Meeting #1) |
Risk management for Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) |
| July 6, 2021 | Environmental justice consultation on Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) (Meeting #2 – repeat of prior meeting) |
Risk management for Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) |
| July 7, 2021 | Environmental justice consultation on n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) (Meeting #1) |
Risk management for n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) |
| July 8, 2021 | Tribal Consultation #2: Technical briefing and comment period on Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
| July 13, 2021 | Environmental justice consultation on n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) (Meeting #2 – repeat of prior meeting) |
Risk management for n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) |
| July 14, 2021 | Tribal Consultation #2: Technical briefing and comment period on n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) | Please contact Amanda Hauff ([email protected]) for more information. |
Overview of Public and Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities
There are several opportunities for public and stakeholder engagement throughout the risk management process. This includes public comment periods, required consultations with certain groups, public meetings/webinars, and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders.
Public Comment Periods
As part of the rulemaking process, EPA will solicit and obtain comments on proposed rules and other documents. To do this, the agency will open public comment periods. These public comment periods relevant to TSCA implementation are announced by the agency through press releases/listservs and by publication in the Federal Register. Comment periods are generally open for 60 or 90 days, with the option for extensions as appropriate. All materials, both agency rulemaking documents and supporting information and public comments will be in a publicly available rulemaking docket, listed on each chemical’s risk management page.
Required Consultations
EPA will be carrying out additional engagement opportunities, typically invitation-only, in compliance with Executive Order 13132 (Federalism); Executive Order 13175 and EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (Tribal consultation); E. O. 12898 (Environmental Justice); and RFA/SBREFA (Small businesses). Some consultations will be open to the public, and in an interest of promoting transparency and encouraging participation from these groups, the dates and point of contacts for all consultation meetings will be listed in the "Upcoming Meetings and Webinars" section of this page.
Public Meetings and Webinars
In support of EPA's commitment to implementing TSCA in an open and transparent manner, the agency will organize webinars or public meetings on current risk management activities. The purpose of these stakeholder engagement events are to educate stakeholders on various proposals, announcements, or policy decisions, as well as to provide a forum for the public to provide feedback or input during the risk management process.
- View a list of upcoming meetings and webinars.
- Materials from previous webinars and additional information will be available on each chemical’s risk management page and in the rulemaking dockets.
One-on-One Meetings
EPA also holds meetings with stakeholders to educate them about TSCA implementation, listen to feedback, and obtain information that will benefit EPA’s work. If you are interested in speaking with EPA officials regarding an existing chemical under TSCA, please contact the chemical lead listed here.
Overview of Risk Management Process
Under TSCA, EPA is required to take action to address chemicals that pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. The figure below provides an overview of the steps in EPA’s risk evaluation process for existing chemicals. Generally, risk management is the last step in the process and starts after publication of a chemical’s final risk evaluation showing unreasonable risks.
TSCA requires EPA to issue a proposed risk management rule under TSCA section 6(a) for the chemical substance no later than one year after the date on which the final risk evaluation regarding the chemical substance is published, and publish a final rule no later than two years after the publication date of the final risk evaluation.
There are several actions EPA can take to address unreasonable risks. These actions, alone or in combination, may include:
- Prohibit or otherwise restrict, or limit the manufacture, processing or distribution in commerce of the substance or mixture.
- Prohibit or otherwise restrict, or limit the manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce of the substance or mixture for a particular use or above a set concentration for a particular use.
- Require adequate minimum warnings and instructions with respect to its use, distribution in commerce, or disposal.
- Require recordkeeping, monitoring, or testing by manufacturers and processors.
- Prohibit or regulate manner or method of commercial use.
- Prohibit or regulate manner or method of disposal.
- Direct manufacturers/processors to give notice of the determination of risk to distributors and users and replace or repurchase.
Any risk management actions would apply only to the condition(s) of use that EPA found to present an unreasonable risk in the final risk evaluation. Those that EPA found do not present an unreasonable risk will not be subject to risk management.