2026-22295·ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (26-7)

Proposed RuleComment Period OpenComments open

Published: Nov 2, 2026
Comments close: Dec 2, 2026
Citation: 91 FR 68894
Docket: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-5974, FRL-13610-01-OCSPP

Proposed rule.

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new “significant new use” rules (SNURs) for a group of chemicals that have already been reported to the agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The rules would require any company that plans to make (including import) or process these chemicals for a use the EPA has identified as “significant” to give the agency at least 90 days’ notice before starting that activity. The purpose is to give EPA a chance to review the proposed use and, if necessary, impose restrictions to protect health and the environment before the activity begins. These proposed SNURs apply to manufacturers, processors, importers and other commercial users of the listed chemicals—essentially anyone who might start a new or expanded use that the EPA deems noteworthy. The agency will evaluate each notification and decide whether the use can proceed as proposed, needs conditions, or must be barred. The proposal was published on November 2, 2026, in the Federal Register (91 FR 68894). Public comments must be submitted by December 2, 2026. After the comment period, EPA will consider the feedback, finalize the rule, and then the notification requirement will become enforceable for the affected chemicals. Until the rule is finalized, the existing TSCA requirements remain in force.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Official abstract

EPA is proposing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. Once finalized, the SNURs would require persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a significant new use by this rulemaking to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the conditions of that use for that chemical substance. In addition, the manufacture or processing for the significant new use may not commence until EPA has conducted a review of the required notification, made an appropriate determination regarding that notification, and taken such actions as required by that determination.