# 2026-12426: EPA Aligns Chemical Reporting Rules With Updated OSHA Standards

2026-12426, EPCRA Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting Requirements: Conformity With the 2024 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, is a Federal Register rule from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-06-22, effective 2026-08-21; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-29).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12426
- As of: 2026-06-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12426
- Title: EPCRA Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting Requirements: Conformity With the 2024 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency
- Citation: 91 FR 37022
- Published: 2026-06-22
- Effective: 2026-08-21
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2050-AH40
- Last updated: 2026-06-29

## In one line

EPA Aligns Chemical Reporting Rules With Updated OSHA Standards

## Summary

Starting August 21, 2026, businesses that handle hazardous chemicals need to update their reports to match the new 2024 OSHA hazard rules. This change makes reports clearer and easier to understand, helping first responders and communities stay safer. Companies must follow the new rules by January 1, 2028, with updated reports due by March 1, 2028—no big costs, just smoother safety info!

## Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency is conforming the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act hazardous chemical inventory reporting regulations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Hazard Communication Standard amendments of 2012 and 2024. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and its regulations rely on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Hazard Communication Standard for the definition of a hazardous chemical and for the categories of health and physical hazards that must be reported under the hazardous chemical inventory regulations. This action conforms the terminology used and information that must be reported on the hazardous chemical inventory forms to the Hazard Communication Standard amendments. As a result, this action improves first responder and community safety, reduces discrepancies and confusion, prevents interpretation burdens on facilities when using (Material) Safety Data Sheets to complete annual hazardous chemical inventory reports, and enhances clarity.

## Effects PRIA read

- New hazard-category reporting timeline: benefit, low. If your business handles hazardous chemicals, the rule takes effect August 21, 2026 and you must use the new OSHA 2024 hazard categories by January 1, 2028. The 2027 EPCRA section 312 annual reports should reflect the new categories and are due March 1, 2028.
- Estimated annual net savings for reporters: benefit, low. EPA estimates the final rule will save about $12.83 million per year (in 2025 dollars) across roughly 463,000 affected facilities. EPA says these are annual incremental cost savings from reduced respondent labor burden.
- Clearer reports for first responders: benefit, medium. EPA says the rule matches EPCRA inventory reports to OSHA's updated hazard categories so first responders and communities get clearer, less confusing hazard information. The Agency states this improves first responder and community safety and reduces discrepancies when using Safety Data Sheets.
- Who must report and reporting deadlines: cost, low. The rule applies to owners and operators of facilities required to prepare or have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for any hazardous chemical under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. EPCRA section 312 inventory forms must be submitted on or before March 1 each year for the prior calendar year.
- EPA will supply updated forms and tools: benefit, low. EPA will publish revised Tier I and Tier II forms, post the National Tier II Data Standard, update guidance and training, and release Tier2 Submit and CAMEO Data Manager software on the normal November schedule to help implement the change.

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## Sources
- [2026-12426 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/22/2026-12426/epcra-hazardous-chemical-inventory-reporting-requirements-conformity-with-the-2024-osha-hazard)
- [2026-12426 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-22/pdf/2026-12426.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12424, Congressional Review Act Revocation of 2024 Amendments to the National Emission…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12424)
- [Next: 2026-12432, Safety Zone; Offshore, Ritidian Point, GU](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12432)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12426 (as of 2026-06-29).