EPA Proposes Revisions to PFAS Reporting Rule to Reduce Industry Burden

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Nov. 10 proposed revisions to its reporting regulations for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The proposal is intended to make PFAS reporting more practical and reduce unnecessary or duplicative requirements for manufacturers and importers while maintaining the agency’s ability to collect essential data, according to EPA.

The updates follow the 2023 PFAS reporting and recordkeeping rule under TSCA Section 8(a)(7), which required companies that manufactured or imported PFAS between 2011 and 2022 to report data related to potential exposure and known environmental or health effects. The new proposal reportedly aims to simplify implementation and lower costs associated with compliance.

According to the agency, the proposed rule would maintain key reporting requirements but add several exemptions, including PFAS present in mixtures or products at concentrations of 0.1% or less, imported articles, certain byproducts and impurities, non-isolated intermediates, and research and development substances. EPA also plans to issue technical corrections to clarify data fields and modify submission timelines.

Public comments on the proposed revisions will be accepted for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register under docket number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0549 at www.regulations.gov.