EPA aligns EPCRA rules with OSHA’s HazCom amendments

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule on June 22, 2026, conforming the hazardous chemical inventory reporting regulations under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Hazardous Communication (HazCom) standard amendments of 2012 and 2024.

Who’s covered?

The final rule applies to facilities regulated under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312. These facilities are:

• Required by OSHA’s HazCom standard to maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for hazardous chemicals on-site at or above the reporting threshold, and
• Required by EPA’s EPCRA Section 312 rules (40 CFR Part 370) to submit annual hazardous chemical inventory reports (commonly known as Tier II reports) for the same chemicals by March 1.

Covered facilities submit SDSs and annual inventory reports to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and local fire department.

How does this impact facilities?

EPA’s final rule replaces the previous EPCRA hazard categories with OSHA’s GHS-aligned hazard classes and hazard categories (totaling 118), which are already used in SDSs. Facilities must use OSHA’s hazard classes with their categories for SDS submissions and hazardous chemical inventory reports required under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312.

Note: SDSs for substances already contain the updated hazard classes and hazard categories. SDSs for mixtures must incorporate them by November 2027.

What’s the compliance timeline?

Covered facilities must use the new hazard categories by January 1, 2028. EPA expects facilities to incorporate them into the reporting year 2027 Tier II report (due March 1, 2028).

Key to remember: EPA has aligned regulations under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 with OSHA’s HazCom amendments for hazardous chemical reporting requirements.