$362,113 in Fines for Failure to Report Chemical Data

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued complaints seeking civil penalties against three companies for alleged violations of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The alleged violations involved the companies’ failure to comply with EPA’s TSCA section 8 Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) regulations, which require companies to submit accurate data about the production and use of chemical substances manufactured or imported during a calendar year. Under TSCA, penalties can be assessed up to $37,500 per day, per violation.

The three most recent cases are against Chemtura Corporation, Bethlehem Apparatus Company, and Haldor Topsoe, Inc., and resulted in penalties totaling $362,113.

CDR Extended by EPA - 6 Weeks

EPA is extending the CDR reporting period by six weeks to August 13, 2012, from the original due date of June 30, 2012. See the pre-publication copy of the FRN for details.

EPA now refers to the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule as the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. This change was effective with the publication of the Inventory Update Reporting Modifications; Chemical Data Reporting Final Rule in August 2011.

Free CDR Electronic Reporting Webinar

EPA presented a webinar on the use of the CDR electronic reporting tool on May 8, 2012. The webinar was a reminder on how to access the eCDRweb application and a walk-through of the application tool itself. Time was allotted for questions related to the reporting tool. Questions related to specific reporting requirements were not covered during the webinar.

The slides are available HERE.

The audio is available HERE.

Required TSCA CDR Rule Starts

Important: Wednesday February 1st starts TSCA's Chemical Data Reporting Rule (CDR). The Form U submission deadline is June 30th 2012.
Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) Rule Changed to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule.

Do you need help with the CDR reporting process? Do you have to report under the CDR? Are you confused about the CDR process? 

Contact me (ccalvert@fando.com) for help!

If you manufactured, imported, generated as a byproduct, or produced a chemical substance for commercial purposes in quantities greater than 25,000 lbs during the calendar year of 2011 you may be required to report under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. The CDR replaces the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) Rule that was used for prior reporting years. (details below)

Lautenberg TSCA Reform Interview

Despite two hearings, several private stakeholders meetings and plenty of bluster, the effort to reform how chemicals are regulated remains largely where it was a year ago as Congress prepares to conclude its work for 2011. To be sure, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and his staff have worked tirelessly to attract industry and Republican support for his "Safe Chemicals Act" (S. 847), which would reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). But after a fiery recent hearing, industry appears hesitant to lend its support and it looks as if Lautenberg won't meet his goal of holding a markup on the bill before the end of the year.

EPA CDR Webinars

EPA now refers to the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule as the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. This change was effective with the publication of the Inventory Update Reporting Modifications,  Chemical Data Reporting Final Rule, in August 2011. EPA has hosted webinars to assist industry stakeholders with the changes to the reporting process for the 2012 CDR rule.

EPA TSCA CDR / IUR Presentation

As part of EPA’s comprehensive approach to enhance the Agency’s current chemicals management program, EPA plans to use a two-step process to identify priority chemical substances for review and assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA’s goal is to identify priority chemicals for near-term evaluation, not to screen and prioritize the entire TSCA Inventory of approximately 84,000 chemicals. EPA held a webinar and is hosting an online discussion forum to get public input on the prioritization factors and data sources the Agency is planning to use in this process.

TSCA New IUR CDR Rule Officially Released

EPA now refers to the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule as the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. This change was effective with the publication of the Inventory Update Reporting Modifications; Chemical Data Reporting Final Rule in August 2011.

Form U submission will be electronic. Electronic reporting for the 2012 CDR is not yet available. EPA will make the CDR electronic reporting tool, e-CDRweb, available through the Agency's CDX. e-CDRweb is a free, web-based reporting tool for completion of Form U for the 2012 CDR.

Environmental Working Group Skeptical on TSCA IUR Reform

The chemical industry has no trouble compiling production and sales information to give to investors on a quarterly basis. When human health or the environment are on the line, however, providing similar information to the Environmental Protection Agency is apparently too much of a burden.

Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency has now said it agrees.

American Chemistry Council Welcomes TSCA IUR/CDR Changes

Improvements Suggested by Industry Reflected in Final Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 2, 2011) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced important changes to how the agency will collect information on the chemicals in commerce under the new Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule.

American Chemistry Council (ACC) Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Affairs Mike Walls issued the following statement welcoming the improvements EPA made in the new rule:

“The American Chemistry Council and our members support EPA’s effort to improve the agency’s understanding of how chemicals are manufactured and used in commerce.

EPA Publishes CDR Rule to Improve Chemical IUR Reporting

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is increasing the type and amount of information it collects on commercial chemicals from chemical manufacturers, allowing the Agency to better identify and manage potential risks to Americans’ health and the environment. The improved rule, known as the chemical data reporting Rule (CDR), also requires that companies submit the information electronically to EPA, rather than on paper, and limits confidentiality claims by companies. The changes are part of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s commitment to strengthen the agency’s chemical management program and increase the transparency of critical information on chemicals.

IUR Changes to CDR - Chemical Data Reporting Rule

EPA issued the final TSCA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule previously referred to as the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) Modifications Rule. The final CDR Rule, issued under the Toxic Substance Control Act, requires new and updated exposure information and increases public access to a wide range of information on every day chemicals and limits confidentiality claims by chemical manufacturers. EPA provided a fact sheet outlining details.