EPA Proposes to Rescind Key Provisions of 2024 Chemical Safety Rule
EPA Proposes to Rescind Key Provisions of 2024 Chemical Safety Rule
What's Changing
The EPA is proposing to rescind major portions of a 2024 update to the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation, which governs safety practices at approximately 11,000 chemical manufacturing, storage, and warehouse facilities across the United States. The proposal, reported by C&EN on February 20, 2026, would roll back requirements that were added just two years ago.
The RMP rule, originally established in 1996 under the Clean Air Act, requires facilities handling listed hazardous substances above threshold quantities to develop risk management plans, conduct hazard assessments, and maintain emergency response procedures.
What the 2024 Rule Required
The Biden-era update added several new requirements to the RMP framework:
- Safer technology and alternatives analysis (STAA) — Companies had to evaluate whether safer chemicals or processes could replace hazardous ones
- Third-party safety audits — Following accidents, facilities were required to hire independent auditors rather than conducting self-audits
- Community participation — Workers and community members gained the right to participate in facility safety discussions and access certain risk information
- Employee stop-work authority — Workers could halt operations they believed posed imminent danger
What EPA Proposes to Eliminate
The current EPA administration argues the 2024 additions imposed excessive costs. According to the agency, rescinding these requirements would save industry approximately $240 million annually, with more than half of the savings coming from eliminating the safer technology review mandate.
Specifically, the proposal would remove:
- The safer technology and alternatives analysis requirement
- Third-party audit mandates following incidents
- Enhanced community access and participation provisions
- Certain information-sharing requirements with local emergency responders
Industry and Advocacy Reactions
Industry Support
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) have welcomed the proposal. Industry representatives described the 2024 additions as "multi-million-dollar one-size fits all mandates" and called the rollback a return to "proven approaches" for managing chemical risks.
Opposition
Environmental organizations, the United Steelworkers union, and several state governments oppose the rescission. Critics argue it "needlessly endangers workers and communities" near chemical facilities. They point out that the 2024 rule was developed in response to a series of chemical plant incidents that caused fatalities, injuries, and community evacuations.
What to Watch
- Public comment period — The proposed rescission will go through a formal notice-and-comment process before any changes take effect
- Legal challenges — Environmental groups and potentially state attorneys general may sue to block the rollback
- State-level action — States like California, New Jersey, and Delaware have their own chemical safety regulations that may fill gaps if federal rules are weakened
- Facility compliance — Until the rescission is finalized, the 2024 requirements remain in effect. Facilities should continue compliance while monitoring the rulemaking process
Alliance's Take
The RMP regulatory back-and-forth has been a fixture of the chemical industry for three decades. For facilities subject to RMP requirements, the practical advice hasn't changed: maintain your risk management plans, keep your process safety information current, and ensure your emergency response procedures are up to date. Regulatory changes are slow, and compliance gaps are easier to prevent than to fix after an inspection.
At Alliance Chemical, we support our customers' compliance programs by providing comprehensive documentation for every product. Our complete chemical catalog ships with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Certificates of Analysis (COA) — the building blocks of any facility's hazard communication and risk management program.
If your facility handles RMP-listed substances and you need updated product documentation, SDS, or technical support, contact us at sales@alliancechemical.com.
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