On December 29, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a draft revision to the risk determination for the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD) risk evaluation issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 86 Fed. Reg. 74082. EPA is reconsidering two key aspects of the risk determinations for HBCD. First, EPA proposes that the appropriate approach to these determinations under TSCA and implementing regulations is to make an unreasonable risk determination for HBCD as a whole chemical substance, rather than making unreasonable risk determinations separately on each individual condition of use (COU) evaluated in the risk evaluation. Second, EPA proposes that the risk determination should be explicit that it does not rely on assumptions regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in making the unreasonable risk determination under TSCA Section 6; rather, the use of PPE would be considered during risk management. EPA “finds that HBCD, as a whole chemical substance, presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment when evaluated under its conditions of use.” Comments are due by February 14, 2022. For more information, please read the full memorandum.
BERGESON & CAMPBELL, P.C.
2200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Suite 100W
Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 557-3800
(202) 557-3836 (fax)
www.lawbc.com