[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66369-66373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26034]



[[Page 66369]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 372

[EPA-HQ-TRI-2019-0375; FRL-10002-70]
RIN 2070-AK51


Addition of Certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; 
Community Right-to-Know Toxic Chemical Release Reporting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: In this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), EPA is 
soliciting information from the public as EPA considers proposing a 
future rule on adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 
(PFAS) to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under 
section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 
(EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). In this 
ANPRM, EPA outlines what PFAS are, why the Agency is considering adding 
certain PFAS to EPCRA section 313, what listing actions are being 
considered, who may be required to report, the current understanding of 
hazard concerns for PFAS, EPA's hazard assessments on PFAS, and other 
information available on these chemicals. In considering a chemical for 
addition to the EPCRA section 313 list, EPA bases its listing decision 
on the chemical's hazard (i.e., toxicity), not the risk (i.e., toxicity 
plus potential exposures) related to that chemical. EPA is requesting 
comment on which, if any, PFAS should be evaluated for listing, how to 
list them, and what would be appropriate reporting thresholds given 
their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. Lastly, EPA asks for 
any additional data to inform the Agency's evaluation and determination 
of which PFAS may meet the EPCRA section 313 listing criteria.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 3, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
TRI-2019-0375, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets#hq.
    All documents in the docket are listed on http://www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, some information is 
not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information or 
other information the disclosure of which is restricted by statute. 
Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on 
the internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. 
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically 
through http://www.regulations.gov. Additional instructions on visiting 
the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is 
available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Daniel R. Bushman, Toxics Release Inventory Program Division (7410M), 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (202) 566-0743; email: bushman.daniel@epa.gov.
    For general information contact: The Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-to-Know Hotline; telephone numbers: toll free at (800) 
424-9346 (select menu option 3) or (703) 348-5070 in the Washington, DC 
Area and International; or go to https://www.epa.gov/home/epa-hotlines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you manufacture, 
process, or otherwise use PFAS. The following list of North American 
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended to be 
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine 
whether this document applies to them. Potentially affected entities 
may include:
     Facilities included in the following NAICS manufacturing 
codes (corresponding to Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 
20 through 39): 311*, 312*, 313*, 314*, 315*, 316, 321, 322, 323*, 324, 
325*, 326*, 327, 331, 332, 333, 334*, 335*, 336, 337*, 339*, 111998*, 
211130*, 212324*, 212325*, 212393*, 212399*, 488390*, 511110, 511120, 
511130, 511140*, 511191, 511199, 512230*, 512250*, 519130*, 541713*, 
541715* or 811490*. *Exceptions and/or limitations exist for these 
NAICS codes.
     Facilities included in the following NAICS codes 
(corresponding to SIC codes other than SIC codes 20 through 39): 
212111, 212112, 212113 (corresponds to SIC code 12, Coal Mining (except 
1241)); or 212221, 212222, 212230, 212299 (corresponds to SIC code 10, 
Metal Mining (except 1011, 1081, and 1094)); or 221111, 221112, 221113, 
221118, 221121, 221122, 221330 (limited to facilities that combust coal 
and/or oil for the purpose of generating power for distribution in 
commerce) (corresponds to SIC codes 4911, 4931, and 4939, Electric 
Utilities); or 424690, 425110, 425120 (limited to facilities previously 
classified in SIC code 5169, Chemicals and Allied Products, Not 
Elsewhere Classified); or 424710 (corresponds to SIC code 5171, 
Petroleum Bulk Terminals and Plants); or 562112 (limited to facilities 
primarily engaged in solvent recovery services on a contract or fee 
basis (previously classified under SIC code 7389, Business Services, 
NEC)); or 562211, 562212, 562213, 562219, 562920 (limited to facilities 
regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, subtitle C, 
42 U.S.C. 6921 et seq.) (corresponds to SIC code 4953, Refuse Systems).
     Federal facilities.
    A more detailed description of the types of facilities covered by 
the NAICS codes subject to reporting under EPCRA section 313 can be 
found at: https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/tri-covered-industry-sectors. To determine whether your facility would be 
affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability 
criteria in part 372, subpart B of Title 40 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations. Federal facilities are required to report under Executive 
Order 13834 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-05-22/pdf/2018-11101.pdf) as explained in the Implementing Instructions from the 
Council on Environmental Quality (https://www.sustainability.gov/pdfs/eo13834_instructions.pdf). If you have

[[Page 66370]]

questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular 
entity, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

B. What action is under consideration by the Agency?

    EPA is considering proposing a rule to add certain PFAS to the list 
of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under EPCRA section 313 and 
section 6607 of the PPA (more commonly known as the Toxics Release 
Inventory (TRI)). EPA is also considering establishing reporting 
thresholds for PFAS that are lower than the usual statutory thresholds 
(25,000 pounds for manufacturing or processing and 10,000 pounds for 
otherwise using listed chemicals) due to concerns for their 
environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential.

C. What is the Agency's authority for this potential action?

    This action is issued under EPCRA sections 313(d) and 328, 42 
U.S.C. 11023 et seq., and PPA section 6607, 42 U.S.C. 13106. EPCRA is 
also referred to as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986.
    Section 313 of EPCRA, 42 U.S.C. 11023, requires certain facilities 
that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals in 
amounts above reporting threshold levels to report their environmental 
releases and other waste management quantities of such chemicals 
annually to EPA and the States. These facilities must also report 
pollution prevention and recycling data for such chemicals, pursuant to 
section 6607 of the PPA, 42 U.S.C. 13106. Congress established an 
initial list of toxic chemicals that was comprised of 308 individually 
listed chemicals and 20 chemical categories.
    EPCRA section 313(d) authorizes EPA to add or delete chemicals from 
the list and sets criteria for these actions. EPCRA section 313(d)(2) 
states that EPA may add a chemical to the list if any of the listing 
criteria in EPCRA section 313(d)(2) are met. Therefore, to add a 
chemical, EPA must demonstrate that at least one criterion has been 
met, but need not determine whether any other criterion has been met. 
Conversely, to remove a chemical from the list, EPCRA section 313(d)(3) 
dictates that EPA must demonstrate that none of the criteria in ECPRA 
section 313(d)(2) have been met. The listing criteria in EPCRA section 
313(d)(2)(A) through (C) are as follows:
     The chemical is known to cause or can reasonably be 
anticipated to cause significant adverse acute human health effects at 
concentration levels that are reasonably likely to exist beyond 
facility site boundaries as a result of continuous, or frequently 
recurring, releases.
     The chemical is known to cause or can reasonably be 
anticipated to cause in humans: Cancer or teratogenic effects, or 
serious or irreversible reproductive dysfunctions, neurological 
disorders, heritable genetic mutations, or other chronic health 
effects.
     The chemical is known to cause or can be reasonably 
anticipated to cause, because of its toxicity, its toxicity and 
persistence in the environment, or its toxicity and tendency to 
bioaccumulate in the environment, a significant adverse effect on the 
environment of sufficient seriousness, in the judgment of the 
Administrator, to warrant reporting under this section.
    EPA often refers to the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(A) criterion as the 
``acute human health effects criterion;'' the EPCRA section 
313(d)(2)(B) criterion as the ``chronic human health effects 
criterion;'' and the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(C) criterion as the 
``environmental effects criterion.''
    In a final rule that added 286 chemicals and chemical categories to 
the TRI list, EPA published in the Federal Register of November 30, 
1994 (59 FR 61432) (FRL-4922-2), a statement clarifying its 
interpretation of the EPCRA section 313(d)(2) criteria for modifying 
the EPCRA section 313 list of toxic chemicals. EPA's interpretation of 
the EPCRA section 313 listing criteria addressed a number of issues 
including EPA's authority to add chemical categories and EPA's policy 
on the use of exposure for chemicals that are toxic only at high doses/
concentrations.

II. Background Information

A. What is TRI?

    EPCRA section 313, 42 U.S.C. 11023, requires certain facilities 
that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals in 
amounts above reporting threshold levels to report their environmental 
releases and other waste management quantities of such chemicals 
annually. These facilities must also report pollution prevention and 
recycling data for such chemicals, pursuant to Pollution Prevention Act 
section 6607, 42 U.S.C. 13106. Note that TRI does not cover all 
chemicals, facilities, or types of pollution.
    TRI provides information about releases of toxic chemicals from 
covered facilities throughout the United States; however, TRI data do 
not reveal whether or to what degree the public is exposed to listed 
chemicals. TRI data can, in conjunction with other information, be used 
as a starting point in evaluating such exposures and the risks posed by 
such exposures. The determination of potential risk to human health 
and/or the environment depends upon many factors, including the 
toxicity of the chemical, the fate of the chemical in the environment, 
and the amount and duration of human or other exposure to the chemical.
    For more information on TRI, visit the TRI website at www.epa.gov/tri. Additionally, via this website, EPA provides a Factors to Consider 
When Using TRI Data document, which helps explain some of the uses, as 
well as limitations, of data collected by TRI.

B. What are PFAS?

    PFAS are synthetic organic compounds that do not occur naturally in 
the environment. PFAS contain an alkyl carbon chain on which the 
hydrogen atoms have been partially or completely replaced by fluorine 
atoms. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds of PFAS make them resistant to 
degradation and thus highly persistent in the environment (Refs. 1 and 
2). Some of these chemicals have been used for decades in a wide 
variety of consumer and industrial products (Ref. 1). Some PFAS have 
been detected at high levels in wildlife indicating that at least some 
PFAS have the ability to bioaccumulate (Ref. 2). Some PFAS can 
accumulate in humans and remain in the human body for long periods of 
time (e.g., months to years) (Refs. 1, 2, and 3). As noted in EPA's 
Action Plan (Ref. 1), because of the widespread use of PFAS in commerce 
and their tendency to persist in the environment, most people in the 
United States have been exposed to PFAS. As a result, several PFAS have 
been detected in human blood serum (Refs. 1, 2 and 4).

C. Why is EPA considering adding PFAS to the TRI?

    Some PFAS may be toxic, persistent in the environment, and 
accumulate in wildlife and humans. Therefore, releases of some PFAS to 
the environment and potential human exposure may be of concern. One 
source of potential exposure to PFAS are releases from industrial 
facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use PFAS. 
Information on the releases and waste management quantities from such 
facilities could help EPA and the public identify some potential 
sources of exposure to PFAS. The TRI is a tool that EPA can use to 
collect such information. As noted in the EPA Action Plan:
    ``Currently, no PFAS chemicals are included on the list of 
chemicals required to report to TRI; however, the EPA is considering 
whether to add

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PFAS chemicals. In considering listing, the EPA must determine whether 
data and information are available to fulfill the listing criteria and 
the extent and utility of the data that would be gathered. For example, 
hazard data required for TRI listing may be readily available for 
certain PFAS chemicals, but not others. In addition, in considering if 
TRI will provide useful information to stakeholders, the EPA also will 
consider if those PFAS are still active in commerce. The process for 
listing includes notice and comment rulemaking to list PFAS chemicals 
for reporting prior to adding these chemicals to the TRI for annual 
reporting.'' (Ref. 1)
    As the first step in the process of adding certain PFAS to the TRI, 
EPA is issuing this ANPRM to allow all stakeholders the opportunity to 
comment on the various aspects of adding certain PFAS to the TRI toxic 
chemical list. Note that adding certain PFAS to the TRI could help 
inform discussions related to risks to human health and the environment 
but the information collected through TRI, as previously indicated, 
would not capture all sources of PFAS releases.

III. What TRI listing actions are being considered?

    Currently, approximately 600 PFAS are manufactured (including 
imported) and/or used in the United States (Ref. 5). The two PFAS that 
have been studied the most are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Due to a voluntary phaseout under the 
2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program, PFOA and PFOS are no longer 
produced domestically by the companies participating in the Program. 
However, PFOA and PFOS may still be produced domestically, imported, 
and used by companies not participating in the PFOA Stewardship Program 
(Ref. 6). PFOA and PFOS may also be present in imported articles. PFAS 
such as hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid (Chemical Abstract 
Service Registry Number (CASRN) 13252-13-6) and its ammonium salt 
(CASRN 62037-80-3), both commonly referred to as GenX, and 
perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) (CASRN 375-73-5) and its salt 
potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate (CASRN 29420-49-3)), are some 
examples of short-chain PFAS that have been developed to replace long-
chain PFOA and PFOS, respectively. Compared to PFOA and PFOS, most 
replacement PFAS tend to have less information available about their 
potential toxicity to human and ecological populations. Through this 
ANPRM process, EPA is seeking information to determine which PFAS 
currently active in commerce have sufficient toxicity information 
available to meet the EPCRA section 313(d)(2) listing criteria. EPA is 
considering whether to add any PFAS currently active in commerce for 
which hazard assessments show that they meet the EPCRA section 
313(d)(2) listing criteria. Note that one factor EPA considers when 
determining whether to add a chemical to the TRI list is whether 
reporting would occur on the chemical if it were to be added.
    In addition, for any PFAS that meet the listing criteria, EPA is 
considering adding these compounds to the list of chemicals of special 
concern (Sec.  372.28) and establishing lower reporting thresholds. In 
the past EPA has lowered the reporting thresholds for persistent, 
bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals (October 29, 1999, 64 FR 
58666 (FRL-6389-11)). For PBT chemicals, with one exception, EPA 
established two reporting thresholds, 100 pounds for PBT chemicals and 
10 pounds for highly PBT chemicals (i.e., those PBT chemicals with very 
high persistence and bioaccumulation values). Certain PFAS may have 
persistence and bioaccumulation properties similar to other PBT 
chemicals where even small amounts of release present a concern. To 
appropriately capture release information of PFAS, EPA is considering 
establishing reporting thresholds lower than the statutory thresholds 
of 25,000 pounds for manufacturing or processing and 10,000 pounds for 
otherwise using listed chemicals.
    PFAS, that meet the ECPRA section 313 listing criteria, could be 
listed as individual chemicals or as members of PFAS chemical 
categories. For example, EPA's ``Health Effects Support Document for 
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)'' (Ref. 7) states that PFOS (CASRN 
1763-23-1) is commonly produced as a potassium salt (CASRN 2795-39-3) 
and that, while the CASRN given is for linear PFOS, the toxicity 
studies are commonly based on a mixture of linear and branched PFOS. 
Therefore, the reference dose (RfD) derived in the 2016 Health Effects 
Support Document applies to the total linear and branched PFOS. For 
PFOS it would seem appropriate to create a TRI chemical category that 
includes all linear and branched isomers of PFOS and any salts of PFOS. 
PFOA has similar considerations, as may other PFAS that may warrant 
reporting as a category rather than as individually listed chemicals. 
EPA may also consider establishing a single chemical category for all 
PFAS, however, a single category would be of limited use since it would 
not provide any information about which PFAS are being released and/or 
managed as waste.

IV. What are the hazard concerns for PFAS?

    Some PFAS are known to persist in the environment because they are 
resistant to degradation and have been shown to bioaccumulate in 
wildlife and humans (Refs. 1 and 2). There are also concerns that some 
PFAS may cause adverse human health effects, including reproductive, 
developmental, cancer, liver, immune, thyroid, and other effects (Refs. 
1, 2, 8, and 9).
    Based on their physicochemical properties and measured 
environmental concentrations, some PFAS are considered to be 
environmentally persistent chemicals (Refs. 1 and 2). In general, most 
PFAS are resistant to environmental degradation due to their strong 
carbon-fluorine bonds (Refs. 1 and 2). While PFAS chain length and 
chemical structure can have implications for environmental fate, PFAS 
are typically resistant to biodegradation, photooxidation, direct 
photolysis, and hydrolysis which is consistent with their persistence 
in soil and water (Ref. 2). Some PFAS, can also degrade or be 
metabolized to other PFAS such as PFOA or PFOS (Ref. 2). PFAS have been 
detected in air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, and 
food (Ref. 2). The presence of PFAS in many parts of the world, 
including the Arctic, indicate that long-range transport is possible 
(Ref. 2).
    Under the TRI, bioaccumulation, to the extent it happens, is part 
of the hazard concerns and will be considered both in the listing 
criteria and in considering lower reporting thresholds. 
Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) estimated from an octanol-water 
partition coefficient (Kow) or measured in aquatic tests, 
have typically been used to assess bioaccumulation potential. 
Kow and the associated BCFs are based on the partitioning of 
organic chemicals into octanol or lipids. However, for PFAS such as 
PFOA and PFOS partitioning appears to be more related to their protein 
binding properties than to their lipophilicity (Refs. 8 and 9). Since 
Kow does not provide a reliable estimate of bioaccumulation 
potential for these chemicals, field evidence of bioaccumulation is 
preferable. Field measured bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), and 
biomagnification factors (BMFs) or trophic magnification factors (TMFs) 
are considered more appropriate

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indicators of the potential for PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, to 
accumulate in fish, other wildlife, and humans (Refs. 8, 9, 10, and 
11). The trophic magnification data for PFOA and PFOS was deemed 
sufficient to consider them to be bioaccumulative by the Stockholm 
Convention Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee in 2015 (Ref. 
12).
    While the toxicity of PFOA and PFOS has been studied extensively, 
there is less data available for other PFAS (Ref. 2). Differences in 
PFAS chain length and chemical structure can have implications for 
environmental fate, bioaccumulation, metabolism, and toxicity (Ref. 1). 
As part of EPA's PFAS Action Plan, the Agency is continuing to collect, 
systematically review, and evaluate available toxicity data for other 
PFAS that may help determine whether exposure to structurally similar 
PFAS results in similar toxic effects (Ref. 1).

V. What EPA hazard assessments and other toxicity data are available 
for PFAS?

    To date EPA has published two assessments of PFAS: (1) Health 
Effects Support Document for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and (2) 
Health Effects Support Document for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) 
(Refs. 7 and 13). These two documents could be used to determine 
whether PFOA, PFOS, and related chemicals (e.g., their salts) meet the 
EPCRA section 313(d)(2) listing criteria. EPA has also developed two 
new draft PFAS assessments for public comment: (1) Human Health 
Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and Its 
Ammonium Salt (CASRN 13252-13-6 and CASRN 62037-80-3) Also Known as 
``GenX Chemicals'' and (2) Human Health Toxicity Values for 
Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (CASRN 375-73-5) and Related Compound 
Potassium Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (PFBS) (CASRN 29420-49-3) (Refs. 14 
and 15). Once these documents are finalized, EPA expects these 
assessments will provide a basis for determining whether GenX chemicals 
and PFBS meet the EPCRA section 313(d)(2) listing criteria.
    In addition, EPA is working on hazard assessments for the following 
PFAS containing varying degrees of available toxicity information 
relevant for human health assessment purposes: Perfluorononanoic acid 
(PFNA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), 
perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid 
(PFHxS) (Ref. 16). Once finalized, EPA expects these assessments will 
provide a basis for determining whether these chemicals meet the EPCRA 
section 313(d)(2) listing criteria.
    EPA has also collected scientific literature on approximately 30 
PFAS. This list of PFAS and the available scientific literature is 
posted at https://hero.epa.gov/hero/index.cfm/litbrowser/public/#PFAS. 
For some of these PFAS, there may be epidemiological and/or 
experimental animal toxicity data available for review and evaluation 
of suitability to inform potential human health effects.
    Lastly, EPA is collaborating with the National Toxicology Program 
(NTP) to study individual PFAS and PFAS as a chemical class. 
Specifically, the NTP has conducted toxicology studies to evaluate and 
identify the adverse effects of certain PFAS chemicals including PFBS, 
PFHxS, PFOS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc/index.cfm). NTP continues to assess the 
potential health effects of PFAS through a large multi-faceted research 
effort (https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/pfas/index.html).
    The Agency relies on EPA hazard assessments and externally peer-
reviewed hazard assessments from other federal agencies in making 
determinations as to whether a chemical meets the EPCRA section 313 
listing criteria. EPA will consider all PFAS assessments on the human 
health and environmental effects of PFAS that are available from all 
sources, including those being conducted by other federal agencies.

VI. What information is EPA requesting?

    EPA is seeking comments on which of the approximately 600 PFAS 
currently active in U.S. commerce the Agency should consider evaluating 
for potential addition to the EPCRA section 313 list of toxic 
chemicals. EPA would also like to receive comments on whether there are 
data available to inform how to list PFAS, i.e., as individual chemical 
listings, as a single category, as multiple categories or as a 
combination of individual listings and category listings. Note that 
when chemicals are listed as a category, the TRI reports submitted 
would include combined data for all members of the category, such that 
there are no data reported specific to any individual member of the 
category.
    EPA is also seeking comments on the appropriate reporting 
thresholds for PFAS. Reporting thresholds should be set at an 
appropriate level to capture most of the releases of PFAS from the 
facilities that submit reports under EPCRA section 313. Finally, EPA 
would like to receive any additional information on human health and 
environmental toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation of PFAS that 
would help determine if they meet the EPCRA section 313 listing 
criteria.

VII. What are the next steps EPA will take?

    EPA intends to carefully review all the comments and information 
received in response to this ANPRM, as well as previously collected and 
assembled studies. Once that review is completed, EPA may supplement 
the collected information with additional hazard assessments to 
determine whether some PFAS meet the EPCRA section 313(d)(2) criteria. 
Should EPA decide to move forward with this action, the next step will 
be to publish a proposed rule to add certain PFAS to the EPCRA section 
313 toxic chemical list and set the appropriate reporting thresholds. 
At that time, the public will have the opportunity to comment on EPA's 
proposal.

VIII. References

    The following is a listing of the documents that are specifically 
referenced in this document. The docket includes these documents and 
other information considered by EPA, including documents that are 
referenced within the documents that are included in the docket, even 
if the referenced document is not itself physically located in the 
docket. For assistance in locating these other documents, please 
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

1. USEPA. EPA's Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action 
Plan. EPA 823R18004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington, DC. February 2019. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/epas-pfas-action-plan.
2. ATSDR. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 
Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls--Draft for Public Comment. 
June 2018. Available from: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf.
3. USEPA. Basic Information on PFAS. U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington, DC. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas.
4. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention. Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to 
Environmental Chemicals. Pages 247-257, 2009. Available from: 
https://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/fourthreport.pdf.
5. USEPA. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance 
Inventory. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. 
Available from: https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory.

[[Page 66373]]

6. USEPA. Fact Sheet: 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program. Available 
from: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/fact-sheet-20102015-pfoa-stewardship-program.
7. USEPA. Health Effects Support Document for Perfluorooctane 
Sulfonate (PFOS). EPA 822-R-16-002. U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington, DC. May 2016. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/pfos_hesd_final_508.pdf.
8. USEPA. Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perfluorooctanoic Acid 
(PFOA). EPA 822-R-16-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington, DC. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/pfoa_health_advisory_final_508.pdf.
9. USEPA. Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perfluorooctane 
Sulfonate (PFOS). EPA 822-R-16-002. U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington, DC. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/pfos_health_advisory_final_508.pdf.
10. USEPA. Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria 
for the Protection of Human Health (2000) Technical Support Document 
Volume 2: Development of National Bioaccumulation Factors. Office of 
Water, Office of Science and Technology. December 2003 (EPA-822-R-
03-030). Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-10/documents/methodology-wqc-protection-hh-2000-volume2.pdf.
11. Gobas, F.A.P.C., Watze de Wolf, W., Burkhard, L.P., Verbruggen, 
E., I and Plotzke, K. 2009. Revisiting Bioaccumulation Criteria for 
POPs and PBT Assessments. Integrated Environmental Assessment and 
Management--Volume 5, Number 4--pp. 624-637.
12. UNEP. Proposal to list pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (CAS No: 
335-67-1, PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid), its salts and PFOA-related 
compounds in Annexes A, B and/or C to the Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants. United Nations Environmental Program. 
2015. Available from: http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/POPsReviewCommittee/Meetings/POPRC11/POPRC11Documents/tabid/4573/.
13. USEPA. Health Effects Support Document for Perfluorooctanoic 
Acid (PFOA). EPA 822-R-16-003. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington, DC. May 2016. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/pfoa_hesd_final-plain.pdf.
14. USEPA. Human Health Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene 
Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium Salt (CASRN 13252-13-6 and 
CASRN 62037-80-3) Also Known as ``GenX Chemicals. Public Comment 
Draft. EPA-823-P-18-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Washington, DC. November 2018. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-11/documents/genx_public_comment_draft_toxicity_assessment_nov2018-508.pdf.
15. USEPA. Human Health Toxicity Values for Perfluorobutane Sulfonic 
Acid (CASRN 375-73-5) and Related Compound Potassium Perfluorobutane 
Sulfonate (CASRN 29420-49-3). Public Comment Draft. EPA-823-R-18-
307. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. November 
2018. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-11/documents/pfbs_public_comment_draft_toxicity_assessment_nov2018-508.pdf.
16. USEPA. IRIS Program Outlook. A Message from the IRIS Program 
(April 2019). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. 
Available from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-04/documents/iris_program_outlook_apr2019.pdf.

IX. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action is a significant regulatory action that was submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Executive 
Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735, 
October 4, 1993). Any changes made in response to OMB recommendations 
have been documented in the docket for this action. Because this action 
does not propose or impose any requirements, and instead seeks comments 
and suggestions for the Agency to consider in possibly developing a 
subsequent proposed rule, the various statutes and Executive Orders 
that normally apply to rulemaking do not apply in this case. Should EPA 
subsequently determine to pursue a rulemaking, EPA will address the 
statutes and Executive Orders as applicable to that rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 372

    Environmental protection, Community right-to-know, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Toxic chemicals.

    Dated: November 25, 2019.
Andrew R. Wheeler,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-26034 Filed 12-3-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


