Congressional appropriators in newly released report language are directing EPA’s TSCA program to revise its standing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OSHA to better clarify how the agencies coordinate on EPA’s workplace analyses and rules and for EPA to be more transparent in its TSCA new chemical reviews.
September 16, 2026
Maria Hegstad
Maria Hegstad is managing editor of Inside EPA’s Risk Policy Report, where she has been writing about all things chemicals, risk assessment policy and toxicology since 2008. Before joining Inside EPA, Maria reported for local newspapers in Manassas, VA, and D.C., covering courts and local government. Maria is a proud native of the “other” Washington, raised in Tacoma. She earned her BA from the College of William & Mary and her MSJ from Medill.
Archived Articles
A landmark agreement between labor unions and a paint manufacturer over Biden-era TSCA worker protection requirements for using trichloroethylene (TCE) is facing a potential challenge from EPA, which is pressing an appellate court to give it a chance to oppose the deal, which the agency says would require the court to set a new standard.
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Multiple labor unions, along with environmental and public health groups, are urging key members of Congress not to reopen TSCA for further reforms that might weaken the law beyond reauthorizing EPA’s user fee authority, as they charge the chemical industry is lobbying legislators to weaken worker protections.
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EPA has released its draft TSCA risk evaluation of the solvent 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), preliminarily determining that it presents unreasonable risk of inhalation or dermal injuries to workers from a variety of uses, though the agency also says it will not seek further review of the draft since an underlying health assessment was reviewed last year alongside a related chemical.
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Chemical manufacturers and a conservative foundation are pressing EPA in comments on a proposed renewal of data collection for the TSCA methylene chloride risk management rules to eliminate duplicative and overlapping EPA and OSHA workplace requirements for the chemical as well other cost burdens.
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The United Auto Workers (UAW) is challenging a Biden-era EPA rule for evaluating the risks of new chemicals, arguing the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it failed to respond to unions’ comments on how to ensure workers have information about chemicals to which they may be exposed while on the job.
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The Trump EPA’s recent 180-degree reversal on its initial plan to rescind the Biden-era TSCA rule phasing out six uses of chrysotile asbestos and instead issue new worker protection guidance on the 2024 rule, came after Administrator Lee Zeldin overruled two other senior Trump EPA appointees, a source with knowledge of the internal matter says.
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EPA is asking the 5th Circuit to grant another 90-day abeyance in legal challenges over the Biden-era TSCA rule phasing out many uses of the common solvent perchloroethylene (PCE or perc) while it reconsiders workplace exposure limits in the rule, although EPA says it is “prepared to proceed” if the court denies its request.
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EPA has opened a new public comment period on a Biden-era TSCA risk management rule for the common solvent perchloroethylene (PCE or perc), seeking especially for information on whether workplace controls could reduce exposure to the chemical rather than outright prohibition of its use.
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Republicans on a House appropriations panel have advanced to the full committee a funding bill for EPA and related agencies that funds the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) despite the Trump administration’s proposal to zero it out.
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