Last week the US Environmental Protection Agency held a training session to further explain the amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), scheduled for 3 hours this afternoon.  For those who couldn’t make it, here’s the distilled version:

For starters, there is a section 8(a) Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule change in name, to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule.  The new name is more precise, we appreciate that.   “Inventory” is a softer word than “chemical” but it has also far too broad an implication in the industrial world.

EPA is promulgating several amendments to the IUR / CDR rule, taking into consideration comments received on the proposed rule.  The amendments were proposed in the Federal Register issue of August 13, 2010.

In short, the way Production Volumes are reported will change:

*

Who is affected? Businesses are affected by this action if they manufacture (including manufacture as a byproduct or import) for commercial purposes chemical substances listed on the TSCA Inventory and produced in volumes of 25,000 lb or more during the principal reporting year (i.e., calendar year 2011).

Potentially affected entities likely include but are not limited to:

1. Chemical substance manufacturers and importers (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 325 and 324110; e.g., chemical substance manufacturing and processing and petroleum refineries)
2. Chemical substance users and processors who may manufacture a byproduct chemical substance (NAICS codes 22, 322, 331, and 3344; e.g., utilities, paper manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, and semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing)

In short:  manufacturers — including importers — of TSCA Inventory-listed chemical substances with a 2011 production volume of 25,000 lb or greater at a site, unless otherwise exempted.

The 2012 submission period is Feb. 1 to June 30, 2012. You need to know:

• Reporting is site-specific
• Reporting standard is “known to or reasonably ascertainable by” for all data
• CBI – upfront substantiation required for:
  • Site and chemical identity claims
  • Processing and use information claims [new requirement]

Manufacturing-related data includes:

1. Chemical identity
   1. CAS RN and chemical name
   2. Accession number and generic chemical name for CBI substances
2. Production volume (PV)
3. Number of workers that are reasonably likely to be exposed (in ranges)
4. Maximum concentration
5. Indication of whether a manufactured chemical substance is being recycled, remanufactured, reprocessed or reused
6. Physical form and percent production volume in the form
7. Processing and use-related data are required for production volumes of 100,000 lb. or more, at a site, unless otherwise exempted

Online web based software can help with the new reporting requirements.  EPA has offered up a web based portal of similar nature.

*chart courtesy EPA CDR training info