Chemical Data Reporting Rule
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. The CDR Rule, which falls under the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory Update Rule (IUR), requires more frequent reporting of critical information on chemicals and requires the submission of new and updated information relating to potential chemical exposures, current production volume, manufacturing site-related data, and processing and use-related data for a larger number of chemicals. The improved information will allow EPA to better identify and manage risks associated with chemicals.
EPA is requiring companies to submit the information through the Internet, using EPA’s electronic reporting tool. On-line reporting will improve both data quality and EPA’s ability to use the data, as well as make it more accessible to the public.
The purpose of Chemical Data Reporting (CDR), formerly known as Inventory Update Reporting (IUR), is to collect quality screening-level, exposure-related information on chemical substances and to make that information available for use by EPA and, to the extent possible, to the public. The IUR/CDR data are used to support risk screening, assessment, priority setting and management activities and constitute the most comprehensive source of basic screening-level, exposure-related information on chemicals available to EPA.
Companies will be required to start following the new reporting requirements in the next data submission period, which will occur February 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012.
Reporting thresholds are used to determine when CDR reporting is required for a subject chemical substance at a manufacturing (including importing) site. EPA has made three changes related to the reporting thresholds:
-Determination of whether you meet the 25,000 lb threshold.
-Replacement of the 300,000 lb threshold for reporting information (to much lower threshold amounts)
-Reduction of the 25,000 lb threshold for certain chemical substances.
For further information: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/346B93365E96C25E852578E000542B73