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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program

Hydrochloric Acid

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Rule Summary

EPA has modified the listing for hydrochloric acid on the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA). Specifically, EPA has deleted non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid from the list.  

Rule History

The original list of chemicals subject to EPCRA Section 313 reporting requirements included hydrochloric acid. On September 11, 1991, EPA received a petition from BASF Corporation, E.I. duPont de Nemours, Monsanto Company, and Vulcan Materials Company requesting that EPA delete non-aersol forms of hydrochloric acid from the list of chemicals under EPCRA Section 313. The petitioners maintained that non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid did not meet the statutory criteria under EPCRA Section 313 for acute, chronic, or environmental effects. 

EPA granted the petition and issued a proposed rule on November, 15, 1995, proposing to delete non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid from the list of toxic chemicals under EPCRA Section 313. In the proposed rule, EPA preliminarily concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to establish that non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid cause adverse acute human health effects at concentration levels that are reasonably likely to exist beyond facility site boundaries, chronic human health effects, or environmental toxicity. EPA finalized this rule on July 25, 1996.

Additional Resources

Correction of Effective Date (PDF)
Final Rule (PDF)
Proposed Rule (PDF)