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October 7, 2020

EPA Grants Manufacturer Request for Risk Evaluation of D4

Lynn L. Bergeson Carla N. Hutton

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted on October 6, 2020, a manufacturer request for a risk evaluation of octamethylcyclotetra-siloxane (D4), a chemical used to make other silicone chemicals and as an ingredient in some personal care products.  Through the American Chemistry Council’s Silicones Environmental, Health, and Safety Center, Dow Silicones Corporation, Elkem Silicones USA Corporation, Evonik Corporation, Momentive Performance Materials, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc., and Wacker Chemical Corporation requested a risk evaluation of D4 pursuant to Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  For manufacturer-requested risk evaluations under TSCA Section 6, the manufacturers requesting the risk evaluation are responsible for payment of the associated fees.  The fee for a manufacturer-requested risk evaluation of a chemical included in the 2014 update to the TSCA Work Plan is 50 percent of total actual costs, with a $1,250,000 initial payment.  D4 is included in the 2014 update to the TSCA Work Plan.  EPA notes that if the request is not withdrawn within 30 days, D4 will enter the TSCA risk evaluation process.