EPA opens comment on draft TSCA peer-review documents for five chemicals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened public comment and an independent scientific peer-review step under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for draft “technical support documents” tied to five chemicals. EPA stresses these are draft materials, not final risk determinations.

For readers, the practical question is timing: written comments are due no later than July 23, 2026, and the virtual Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) peer-review meeting runs August 3–7, 2026. EPA will also hold a virtual preparatory meeting on July 23, 2026.

What EPA released (and what it isn’t)

EPA’s TSCA SACC peer-review track covers draft technical support documents for:

• 1,1,2-trichloroethane (1,1,2-TCA)
• 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP)
• trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (tDCE)
• TBBPA (4,4′-(1-methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol])
• EDB (ethylene dibromide)

EPA says these documents support draft TSCA risk-evaluation work and are being sent to the SACC for peer review and public input. EPA also emphasizes that the materials are drafts and do not represent final agency decisions about chemical risks.

How to participate now

• Written comments on the draft technical support documents (deadline): July 23, 2026 — submit to the peer-review docket for the technical support documents/charge questions.
• Written comments for the preparatory meeting’s charge-question scope/clarity (deadline): July 16, 2026 (noon ET) — a separate written window focused on clarifying the scope and clarity of the charge questions.
• Virtual preparatory meeting: July 23, 2026 (1 p.m. to ~4 p.m. ET) — EPA will use this session to consider the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions.
• Oral-comment request deadline for the July 23 preparatory meeting: July 15, 2026 (noon ET) — request time to present oral comments during the preparatory meeting.

Key dates to put on your calendar

• July 15, 2026 (12:00 p.m. ET): deadline to request oral comments for the July 23 preparatory meeting.
• July 16, 2026 (12:00 p.m. ET): deadline for written comments on the scope/clarity of the draft charge questions.
• July 23, 2026: written comments are due no later than this date for the draft technical support documents being reviewed by the SACC; preparatory meeting runs 1 p.m. to ~4 p.m. ET.
• August 3–7, 2026: virtual SACC peer-review meeting for the draft technical support documents.

What to watch next

Because EPA has labeled these materials as draft technical support documents, the next watch item isn’t an immediate final verdict. After public comments and the SACC peer review, EPA says it will carefully consider the input as it moves forward with TSCA risk-evaluation steps.

Key sources

• EPA peer-review process page (meetings, docket link, oral-comment deadline details)