In a continued effort to increase transparency and decrease waste the EPA is now requiring all new chemical notices be submitted electronically. This is the second stage of the rule, which became effective April 6, 2011 requires all new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5 Premanufacture Notices (PMNs) be submitted electronically through the Central Data Exchange (CDX) or on optical CD and must use e-PMN software (CDs will be phased out by April 2012).
The final rule was issued in April of 2010, and enacted a two-year phase out of paper and optical disc reporting for new chemical notices to the EPA. According to the EPA this rule is expected to create an industry savings of $379,271 in the first year of the final rule, $424,863 in the second year of the final rule, and $457,066 in the third year of the final rule. Additionally, the EPA expects a reduction in their own costs and burdens as a result of the electronic submissions.
“This is the latest in a series of actions that EPA is taking to improve the reporting of information on chemicals, and, importantly, increase the public’s access to that information,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “The agency used an outdated process that depended on paper filings for far too long.”
The EPA is providing two different variations of the e-PMN software, which can be found here. For more information on the phase out visit the EPA’s website or read the final rule.