Notice2026-12012
4,4′-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA) Risk Evaluation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Notice of Availability and Request for Comment
Primary source
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Published
June 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on the draft risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 4,4'- (1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA). The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA are to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment under the conditions of use (COUs), including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, and without consideration of costs or non-risk factors. EPA is seeking comment on the draft risk evaluation for TBBPA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36138-36140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-12012]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0462; FRL-13443-01-OCSPP]
4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA) Risk
Evaluation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Notice of
Availability and Request for Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is
announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on the draft
risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 4,4'-
(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA). The purpose of risk
evaluations under TSCA are to determine whether a chemical substance
presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the
environment under the conditions of use (COUs), including unreasonable
risk to potentially exposed or susceptible
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subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA,
and without consideration of costs or non-risk factors. EPA is seeking
comment on the draft risk evaluation for TBBPA.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: To submit comments on the TBBPA draft risk evaluation,
submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0462, online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not electronically
submit any information you consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted
by statute. Additional information on commenting or visiting the
docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is
available at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For technical information on TBBPA: John Allran, Existing Chemical
Risk Assessment Division (7404M), Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-7656; email
address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#36627474667718626575777653465718515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7125333321305f25223230311401105f161e07">[email protected]</span></a>.
For general information: The TSCA Assistance Information Service
Hotline, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, 422 South Clinton Ave.,
Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (800) 471-7127 or (202) 554-
1404; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3e7e0f0f29efbdcc7dfdaddd6f3d6c3d29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2e6e1f1f39ffaddc6dedbdcd7f2d7c2d39cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Executive Summary
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action is directed to the public in general and may be of
particular interest to those involved in the manufacture (defined under
TSCA section 3(9) to include import), processing, distribution, use,
and disposal of TBBPA, related industry trade organizations, non-
governmental organizations with an interest in human and environmental
health, State and local governments, Tribal Nations, and/or those
interested in the assessment of risks involving chemical substances and
mixtures regulated under TSCA. As such, the Agency has not attempted to
describe all the specific entities that this action might apply to. If
you need help determining applicability, consult the relevant technical
contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?
The Agency is conducting this risk evaluation under TSCA section 6,
(15 U.S.C. 2605) which requires that EPA conduct risk evaluations on
chemical substances and identifies the minimum components EPA must
include in the risk evaluations. Each risk evaluation must be conducted
consistent with the best available science, be based on the weight of
the scientific evidence, and consider reasonably available information,
and not consider costs or non-risk factors (15 U.S.C. 2625(h), (i), and
(k)). See also the implementing procedural regulations at 40 CFR part
702.
C. What action is the Agency taking?
EPA is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on
the draft risk evaluation under TSCA for TBBPA. EPA used the best
available science to prepare the draft risk evaluation and
preliminarily determined, based on the weight of scientific evidence,
that TBBPA poses unreasonable risk to human health and the environment
driven primarily by certain COUs analyzed in the draft risk evaluation.
D. What should I consider as I submit my comments to EPA?
1. Submitting CBI.
Do not submit CBI to EPA through <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or
email. If you wish to include CBI in your comment, please follow the
applicable instructions at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets#rules">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets#rules</a> and clearly mark the information that you claim to be
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR parts 2 and 703, as applicable.
2. Tips for preparing comments.
When preparing and submitting your comments, see the commenting
tips at <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets</a>.
II. Background
A. What is TBBPA?
TBBPA is a crystalline solid used as an additive and reactive flame
retardant. As an additive flame retardant, TBBPA is incorporated into
polymers and used in electronic enclosures and electronic consumer
products with an outer plastic casing. As a reactive flame retardant,
TBBPA is primarily used in epoxy resin printed circuit boards. TBBPA is
used in fabric, textile, leather products, and construction materials.
Workers may be exposed to TBBPA through inhalation of dust or dermal
contact during the manufacturing, processing, use, or disposal of
TBBPA. Consumers may be exposed to TBBPA through dermal or oral
exposure to products, as well as inhalation of dust. TBBPA is primarily
released to the environment through land disposal. Environmental TBBPA
release can also occur through air and water releases. TBBPA has been
found in drinking water, ground water, ambient air, indoor air, fish,
human breast milk, and dust and soil.
B. The Risk Evaluation of TBBPA
In December 2019, EPA announced its designation of TBBPA (Docket ID
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0462) as a high priority substance for risk evaluation
under TSCA (84 FR 71924) (FRL-10003-15). In April 2020, EPA published
and sought public comment on the draft scope of the TBBPA risk
evaluation (85 FR 19941) (FRL-10007-11-OCSPP) and, after considering
public comments, issued the final scope on September 4, 2020 (85 FR
55281) (FRL-10013-90-OCSPP).
III. Request for Comment
EPA seeks feedback on the assessment of risk presented in the draft
risk evaluation for TBBPA, a copy of which is available in the docket,
and encourages all potentially interested parties, including
individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, non-
profit organizations, academic institutions, research institutions, and
private sector entities to comment on the draft risk evaluation. To the
extent possible, the Agency asks commenters to please cite any public
data related to or that support comments provided, and to the extent
permissible, describe any supporting data that are not publicly
available.
EPA welcomes specific input on each section of the draft risk
evaluation, particularly input on the following:
<bullet> Non-cancer human health hazard conclusions (e.g.,
selection of intermediate and chronic endpoints);
<bullet> Cancer human health hazard conclusions (e.g., conclusion
of non-genotoxic mode of action and preliminary cancer classification);
<bullet> Exposure assumptions for occupational exposure scenarios
(e.g., how exposure controls and personal protective equipment are
used, the frequency of occupational task(s) per shift, use of
respirators with an Assigned Protection Factor higher than 10 during
higher exposure tasks);
<bullet> Modeling assumptions for conditions of use without Toxics
Release Inventory data (e.g., use as a laboratory chemical);
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<bullet> Domestic manufacturing as a reasonably foreseen use and
any information regarding domestic manufacturing being reestablished in
the United States;
<bullet> Information that may inform assessment of water releases
and environmental impacts (e.g., percent of TBBPA in waste disposal
streams); and
<bullet> Relevant studies or other data sources not identified by
EPA.
IV. Next Steps
After consideration of comments received from the public on the
draft risk evaluation and input from the SACC peer review, EPA will
issue a final risk evaluation for TBBPA. Under TSCA section 6, EPA must
determine in the final risk evaluation, based on the weight of
scientific evidence, whether or not the chemical presents an
unreasonable risk to human health or the environment under the
chemical's COUs. This includes consideration of risks to potentially
exposed susceptible subpopulations who may be at greater risks than the
general population, such as children and workers. TSCA prohibits EPA
from considering non-risk factors (e.g., costs/benefits) during risk
evaluation.
For more information about the TSCA risk evaluation process for
existing chemicals, go to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca">https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca</a>.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Dated: June 11, 2026.
Douglas M. Troutman,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-12012 Filed 6-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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