View Rule

EPA is developing a final rule under section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address unreasonable risk of injury to health presented by 1-bromopropane (1-BP). EPA proposed this rule on August 8, 2024. Section 6(a) of TSCA requires EPA address by rule any unreasonable risk identified in a TSCA risk evaluation and apply requirements to the extent necessary so the chemical no longer presents unreasonable risk. 1-BP is a widely used solvent in a variety of occupational and consumer applications, including vapor degreasing, aerosol degreasing, adhesives and sealants, and in insulation. EPA determined that 1-BP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to the significant adverse health effects associated with exposure to 1-BP, including neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity from acute and chronic inhalation exposures and dermal exposures, and cancer from chronic inhalation exposures. EPA is developing a final rule to address the identified unreasonable risk presented by 1-BP under its conditions of use. EPA proposed requirements to, among other things, prevent consumer access to the chemical, restrict the industrial and commercial use of the chemical while also allowing for a reasonable transition period where an industrial and commercial use of the chemical is being prohibited, and protect workers from the unreasonable risk of 1-BP while on the job. The Agency’s development of this rule incorporates significant stakeholder outreach and public participation, including public webinars and over 40 external meetings, Federalism and Tribal consultations, and consultations with potentially affected small entities by a Small Businesses Advocacy Review Panel. Specifically, EPA engaged in discussions with industry, non-governmental organizations, other government agencies, technical experts and users of 1-BP, and the general public to hear from users, academics, manufacturers, and members of the public health community about practices related to commercial uses of 1-BP. EPA's final risk evaluation for 1-BP, describing the conditions of use, is in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0235, with the 2022 unreasonable risk determination and additional materials in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0741.