EPA Expands Toxic Release Inventory to Include Nine New PFAS Chemicals

Federal Action Strengthens Chemical Release Reporting Requirements Nationwide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expanded its Toxic Release Inventory on January 3, 2025, adding nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the mandatory reporting list. The addition brings the total number of PFAS chemicals under federal monitoring to 205, requiring facilities to track and report environmental releases starting January 1, 2025. This expansion follows the EPA’s October 2023 classification of all TRI-listed PFAS as chemicals of special concern, eliminating previous small-concentration reporting exemptions.

5 Key Points

• Facilities must begin tracking nine new PFAS chemicals effective January 1, 2025.
• The first reporting deadline for new chemicals is July 1, 2026.
• The addition stems from the EPA’s finalization of toxicity values in 2024.
• The total PFAS chemicals on the TRI list now reach 205.
• The change affects facilities in designated industry sectors and federal facilities above set quantities.

New TRI Requirements Target Nine PFAS Chemicals

The EPA’s latest expansion of the Toxic Release Inventory introduces comprehensive reporting requirements for nine specific PFAS compounds. These include ammonium perfluorodecanoate (PFDA NH4), sodium perfluorodecanoate (PFDA-Na), and perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid. The list also encompasses four variants of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate compounds, including their acid, anion, potassium salt, and ammonium salt forms. Acetic acid with perfluoro-alkyl derivatives, a previously confidential chemical, rounds out the new additions. Facilities must begin tracking these substances starting January 1, 2025, with their first reporting submissions due by July 1, 2026.

Biden-Harris Administration Advances Environmental Justice Goals

The expansion of TRI reporting requirements reinforces the administration’s commitment to environmental transparency and community protection. Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff emphasized this connection: “EPA continues to make strides in getting information on PFAS into the Toxics Release Inventory so the public can see if these chemicals are being released into their communities. People have a right to know when facilities in their backyards release toxic chemicals into the environment.” The data collected through TRI empowers local communities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to make informed decisions about environmental health and safety measures in their areas. This information becomes particularly crucial for families and workers living near facilities that handle these chemicals.

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Automatic Addition Process Stems from Defense Authorization Act

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act created a systematic approach for expanding PFAS oversight through the TRI program. Under this framework, PFAS compounds automatically qualify for TRI listing when the EPA finalizes their toxicity values. Eight newly added chemicals met these criteria in 2024 through EPA’s toxicity assessments. The ninth addition, acetic acid with perfluoro-alkyl derivatives, followed a different path. This compound was initially identified for inclusion based on the NDAA’s original provisions. Still, it remained protected as confidential business information until May 2024, when an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory declassified its identity.

Enhanced Reporting Standards Eliminate Previous Exemptions

The addition of these nine PFAS compounds builds upon EPA’s October 2023 decision to designate all TRI-listed PFAS as chemicals of special concern. This classification removed a significant reporting loophole that previously allowed facilities to avoid disclosure when using PFAS in small concentrations. The strengthened requirements now mandate comprehensive reporting regardless of concentration levels, ensuring communities receive complete information about PFAS releases in their areas. These changes affect various facilities that handle these chemicals above specified quantities, from industrial manufacturers to federal installations.