EPA Announces New SNURs for 27 Chemicals Under TSCA

On Friday, August 17, US EPA announced Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) under TSCA Section 5(e) for twenty-seven chemical substances used as flame retardants, plasticizers, lubricants, and waterproofers in products like rubber, adhesives, textiles, and others. A SNUR means persons who intend to manufacture or process the covered chemicals must notify EPA of their intention 90 days before starting the activity, using a Significant New Use Notice (SNUN). 

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EPA lists all of the chemicals impacted by name, PMN number, and CAS number in the Final Rule.

For each chemical covered, EPA lays out mandatory criteria for businesses to use the chemical for the specific purposes covered by the rule. Any failure to follow the requirements in a SNUR constitutes a new use of the chemical and requires approval from EPA.

The new SNUR requirements take effect on October 16, 2018.

For some of the chemicals on the list, EPA simply requires submission of toxicity testing and/or monitoring data. For others, EPA requires PPE and respirators be used to prevent dermal exposure and inhalation, engineering controls to reduce worker exposure, and establishment of a hazard communication program.

Additional restrictions for some of the chemicals listed include limits for releases to the water, limits on the types of uses for the chemical (i.e., no aerosols or mists), disposal restrictions, requirements for manufacturing and use in an enclosed process. For some of the chemical substances, the SNURs go as far as to prohibit domestic manufacturing. 

See all twenty-seven chemicals and SNUR criteria for each in EPA’s Final Rule here.

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Tags: chemicals, EPA, new rules, SNUR, TSCA