For Release: November 4, 2020

On November 20, 2020, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, EPA will host a webinar to educate stakeholders on the risk management process under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the findings in the final risk evaluation for the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD). The webinar also provides the opportunity for the public to provide input on considerations the agency should take into account for managing these unreasonable risks.

Register for the webinar. If you would like to provide oral comments during the webinar, you must register by November 15, 2020. Select “attend and make a comment” when registering. You may register as a listen-only attendee at any time up to the end of the meeting. For listen-only attendees, select “listen-only” when registering. Information on how to connect to the webinar will be provided upon registration.

Details on how to access the webinar and slides will be sent to participants after registering via Eventbrite.com. Please ensure that emails from Eventbrite.com will not be blocked by your spam filter. EPA will provide a transcript and recording on EPA’s HBCD webpage following the webinar.

Additionally, EPA will begin one-on-one meetings with stakeholders and formal consultations with state and local governments, tribes, environmental justice communities, and small businesses. There will also be an open public comment period on any draft risk management regulation.

Learn more about risk management for HBCD.

Background

TSCA is our nation’s primary chemical management law. This law requires EPA to evaluate the risks associated with exposure to existing chemicals using the best available science then take action to reduce or eliminate any unreasonable risks identified. The agency issued a final risk evaluation for HBCD in September 2020 showing unreasonable risks to the environment and workers under certain conditions of use. EPA is now moving to risk management for this chemical, the next step in the process required by TSCA.

There are several actions EPA can take under TSCA to address unreasonable risks including banning a chemical; restricting the manufacturing, processing, distribution, use, or disposal; requiring warning labels /testing; and requiring manufacturers to notify distributors of any unreasonable risks. EPA has up to one year after issuing a final risk evaluation to propose risk management actions followed by a public comment period and final rule.

Learn more about the risk evaluation process required by TSCA.