Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110
§2617 Preemption
Title 15 › CHAPTER 53 — TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — CONTROL OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES › § 2617
Summary
The law stops States from making or enforcing certain new rules about specific chemicals once the federal Administrator has acted. States may not force the same testing or information that the Administrator requires, ban or limit a chemical after the Administrator has found it not to be an unreasonable risk or has made a final rule about it, or require notice for uses the Administrator has labeled as a “significant new use.” That federal limit on State action does not start until the federal action goes into effect. While the Administrator is defining the scope of a risk review and until that review is finished or its deadline passes, States may not create new bans or limits for a chemical that the Administrator has marked as high-priority, but they may keep enforcing laws they had before the scope was set. Federal preemption only covers the exact chemicals, uses, hazards, or conditions the federal action addresses. States can still act under other federal laws, require extra reporting not required by the Administrator, or regulate water, air, or waste unless doing so would conflict with or duplicate the federal action. A State rule that is identical to a federal one is allowed so long as the State’s penalties are no tougher and total penalties do not exceed the federal maximum. Laws in effect before April 22, 2016, and laws in effect on August 31, 2003, are preserved. A State can ask the Administrator for an exemption; the Administrator must decide within 180 days for discretionary requests and 110 days for required ones, or some requests are automatically approved (effective 10 days after the missed deadline). Public notice and court review rules apply, including a 60-day deadline to seek review in the D.C. Circuit. Finally, nothing here stops private lawsuits or other civil or criminal claims, and federal action is not by itself decisive in court cases.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §2617
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
(1)Establishment or enforcement
Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), and subject to paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision of a State may establish or continue to enforce any of the following:
(A)Development of information
A statute or administrative action to require the development of information about a chemical substance or category of chemical substances that is reasonably likely to produce the same information required under section 2603, 2604, or 2605 of this title in— (i)
(ii)a consent agreement entered into by the Administrator; or
(iii)an order issued by the Administrator.
(B)Chemical substances found not to present an unreasonable risk or restricted
A statute, criminal penalty, or administrative action to prohibit or otherwise restrict the manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce or use of a chemical substance—
(i)for which the determination described in section 2605(i)(1) of this title is made, consistent with the scope of the risk evaluation under section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title; or
(ii)for which a final rule is promulgated under section 2605(a) of this title, after the effective date of the rule issued under section 2605(a) of this title for the chemical substance, consistent with the scope of the risk evaluation under section 2605(b)(4)(D) 1 of this title.
(C)Significant new use
A statute or administrative action requiring the notification of a use of a chemical substance that the Administrator has specified as a significant new use and for which the Administrator has required notification pursuant to a rule promulgated under section 2604 of this title.
(2)Effective date of preemption
Under this subsection, Federal preemption of statutes and administrative actions applicable to specific chemical substances shall not occur until the effective date of the applicable action described in paragraph (1) taken by the Administrator.
(b)New statutes, criminal penalties, or administrative actions creating prohibitions or other restrictions
(1)In general
Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), beginning on the date on which the Administrator defines the scope of a risk evaluation for a chemical substance under section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title and ending on the date on which the deadline established pursuant to section 2605(b)(4)(G) of this title for completion of the risk evaluation expires, or on the date on which the Administrator publishes the risk evaluation under section 2605(b)(4)(C) of this title, whichever is earlier, no State or political subdivision of a State may establish a statute, criminal penalty, or administrative action prohibiting or otherwise restricting the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of such chemical substance that is a high-priority substance designated under section 2605(b)(1)(B)(i) of this title.
(2)Effect of subsection
This subsection does not restrict the authority of a State or political subdivision of a State to continue to enforce any statute enacted, criminal penalty assessed, or administrative action taken, prior to the date on which the Administrator defines and publishes the scope of a risk evaluation under section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title.
(c)Scope of preemption
Federal preemption under subsections (a) and (b) of statutes, criminal penalties, and administrative actions applicable to specific chemical substances shall apply only to—
(1)with respect to subsection (a)(1)(A), the chemical substances or category of chemical substances subject to a rule, order, or consent agreement under section 2603, 2604, or 2605 of this title;
(2)with respect to subsection (b), the hazards, exposures, risks, and uses or conditions of use of such chemical substances included in the scope of the risk evaluation pursuant to section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title;
(3)with respect to subsection (a)(1)(B), the hazards, exposures, risks, and uses or conditions of use of such chemical substances included in any final action the Administrator takes pursuant to section 2605(a) or 2605(i)(1) of this title; or
(4)with respect to subsection (a)(1)(C), the uses of such chemical substances that the Administrator has specified as significant new uses and for which the Administrator has required notification pursuant to a rule promulgated under section 2604 of this title.
(d)Exceptions
(1)No preemption of statutes and administrative actions
(A)In general
Nothing in this chapter, nor any amendment made by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, nor any rule, standard of performance, risk evaluation, or scientific assessment implemented pursuant to this chapter, shall affect the right of a State or a political subdivision of a State to adopt or enforce any rule, standard of performance, risk evaluation, scientific assessment, or any other protection for public health or the environment that—
(i)is adopted or authorized under the authority of any other Federal law or adopted to satisfy or obtain authorization or approval under any other Federal law;
(ii)implements a reporting, monitoring, or other information obligation for the chemical substance not otherwise required by the Administrator under this chapter or required under any other Federal law;
(iii)is adopted pursuant to authority under a law of the State or political subdivision of the State related to water quality, air quality, or waste treatment or disposal, except to the extent that the action—
(I)imposes a restriction on the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of a chemical substance; and
(II)(aa)addresses the same hazards and exposures, with respect to the same conditions of use as are included in the scope of the risk evaluation published pursuant to section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title, but is inconsistent with the action of the Administrator; or
(bb)would cause a violation of the applicable action by the Administrator under section 2604 or 2605 of this title; or
(iv)subject to subparagraph (B), is identical to a requirement prescribed by the Administrator.
(B)Identical requirements
(i)In general
The penalties and other sanctions applicable under a law of a State or political subdivision of a State in the event of noncompliance with the identical requirement shall be no more stringent than the penalties and other sanctions available to the Administrator under section 2615 of this title.
(ii)Penalties
In the case of an identical requirement—
(I)a State or political subdivision of a State may not assess a penalty for a specific violation for which the Administrator has assessed an adequate penalty under section 2615 of this title; and
(II)if a State or political subdivision of a State has assessed a penalty for a specific violation, the Administrator may not assess a penalty for that violation in an amount that would cause the total of the penalties assessed for the violation by the State or political subdivision of a State and the Administrator combined to exceed the maximum amount that may be assessed for that violation by the Administrator under section 2615 of this title.
(2)Applicability to certain rules or orders
(A)Prior rules and orders
Nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying the preemptive effect under this section, as in effect on the day before the effective date of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, of any rule or order promulgated or issued under this chapter prior to that effective date.
(B)Certain chemical substances and mixtures
With respect to a chemical substance or mixture for which any rule or order was promulgated or issued under section 2605 of this title prior to the effective date of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act with respect to manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of the chemical substance or mixture, nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying the preemptive effect of this section as in effect prior to the enactment of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act of any rule or order that is promulgated or issued with respect to such chemical substance or mixture under section 2605 of this title after that effective date, unless the latter rule or order is with respect to a chemical substance or mixture containing a chemical substance and follows a designation of that chemical substance as a high-priority substance under section 2605(b)(1)(B)(i) of this title, the identification of that chemical substance under section 2605(b)(2)(A) of this title, or the selection of that chemical substance for risk evaluation under section 2605(b)(4)(E)(iv)(II) of this title.
(e)Preservation of certain laws
(1)In general
Nothing in this chapter, subject to subsection (g) of this section, shall—
(A)be construed to preempt or otherwise affect the authority of a State or political subdivision of a State to continue to enforce any action taken or requirement imposed or requirement enacted relating to a specific chemical substance before April 22, 2016, under the authority of a law of the State or political subdivision of the State that prohibits or otherwise restricts manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of a chemical substance; or
(B)be construed to preempt or otherwise affect any action taken pursuant to a State law that was in effect on August 31, 2003.
(2)Effect of subsection
This subsection does not affect, modify, or alter the relationship between Federal law and laws of a State or political subdivision of a State pursuant to any other Federal law.
(f)Waivers
(1)Discretionary exemptions
Upon application of a State or political subdivision of a State, the Administrator may, by rule, exempt from subsection (a), under such conditions as may be prescribed in the rule, a statute, criminal penalty, or administrative action of that State or political subdivision of the State that relates to the effects of exposure to a chemical substance under the conditions of use if the Administrator determines that—
(A)compelling conditions warrant granting the waiver to protect health or the environment;
(B)compliance with the proposed requirement of the State or political subdivision of the State would not unduly burden interstate commerce in the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of a chemical substance;
(C)compliance with the proposed requirement of the State or political subdivision of the State would not cause a violation of any applicable Federal law, rule, or order; and
(D)in the judgment of the Administrator, the proposed requirement of the State or political subdivision of the State is designed to address a risk of a chemical substance, under the conditions of use, that was identified—
(i)consistent with the best available science;
(ii)using supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices; and
(iii)based on the weight of the scientific evidence.
(2)Required exemptions
Upon application of a State or political subdivision of a State, the Administrator shall exempt from subsection (b) a statute or administrative action of a State or political subdivision of a State that relates to the effects of exposure to a chemical substance under the conditions of use if the Administrator determines that—
(A)(i)compliance with the proposed requirement of the State or political subdivision of the State would not unduly burden interstate commerce in the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of a chemical substance;
(ii)compliance with the proposed requirement of the State or political subdivision of the State would not cause a violation of any applicable Federal law, rule, or order; and
(iii)the State or political subdivision of the State has a concern about the chemical substance or use of the chemical substance based in peer-reviewed science; or
(B)no later than the date that is 18 months after the date on which the Administrator has initiated the prioritization process for a chemical substance under the rule promulgated pursuant to section 2605(b)(1)(A) of this title, or the date on which the Administrator publishes the scope of the risk evaluation for a chemical substance under section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title, whichever is sooner, the State or political subdivision of the State has enacted a statute or proposed or finalized an administrative action intended to prohibit or otherwise restrict the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of the chemical substance.
(3)Determination of a waiver request
The duty of the Administrator to grant or deny a waiver application shall be nondelegable and shall be exercised—
(A)not later than 180 days after the date on which an application under paragraph (1) is submitted; and
(B)not later than 110 days after the date on which an application under paragraph (2) is submitted.
(4)Failure to make a determination
If the Administrator fails to make a determination under paragraph (3)(B) during the 110-day period beginning on the date on which an application under paragraph (2) is submitted, the statute or administrative action of the State or political subdivision of the State that was the subject of the application shall not be considered to be an existing statute or administrative action for purposes of subsection (b) by reason of the failure of the Administrator to make a determination.
(5)Notice and comment
Except in the case of an application approved under paragraph (9), the application of a State or political subdivision of a State under this subsection shall be subject to public notice and comment.
(6)Final agency action
The decision of the Administrator on the application of a State or political subdivision of a State shall be—
(A)considered to be a final agency action; and
(B)subject to judicial review.
(7)Duration of waivers
A waiver granted under paragraph (2) or approved under paragraph (9) shall remain in effect until such time as the Administrator publishes the risk evaluation under section 2605(b) of this title.
(8)Judicial review of waivers
Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Administrator makes a determination on an application of a State or political subdivision of a State under paragraph (1) or (2), any person may file a petition for judicial review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the determination.
(9)Approval
(A)Automatic approval
If the Administrator fails to meet the deadline established under paragraph (3)(B), the application of a State or political subdivision of a State under paragraph (2) shall be automatically approved, effective on the date that is 10 days after the deadline.
(B)Requirements
Notwithstanding paragraph (6), approval of a waiver application under subparagraph (A) for failure to meet the deadline under paragraph (3)(B) shall not be considered final agency action or be subject to judicial review or public notice and comment.
(g)Savings
(1)No preemption of common law or statutory causes of action for civil relief or criminal conduct
(A)In general
Nothing in this chapter, nor any amendment made by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, nor any standard, rule, requirement, standard of performance, risk evaluation, or scientific assessment implemented pursuant to this chapter, shall be construed to preempt, displace, or supplant any State or Federal common law rights or any State or Federal statute creating a remedy for civil relief, including those for civil damage, or a penalty for a criminal conduct.
(B)Clarification of no preemption
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, nothing in this chapter, nor any amendments made by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, shall preempt or preclude any cause of action for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or other injury based on negligence, strict liability, products liability, failure to warn, or any other legal theory of liability under any State law, maritime law, or Federal common law or statutory theory.
(2)No effect on private remedies
(A)In general
Nothing in this chapter, nor any amendments made by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, nor any rules, regulations, requirements, risk evaluations, scientific assessments, or orders issued pursuant to this chapter shall be interpreted as, in either the plaintiff’s or defendant’s favor, dispositive in any civil action.
(B)Authority of courts
This chapter does not affect the authority of any court to make a determination in an adjudicatory proceeding under applicable State or Federal law with respect to the admission into evidence or any other use of this chapter or rules, regulations, requirements, standards of performance, risk evaluations, scientific assessments, or orders issued pursuant to this chapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 2605(b)(4)(D) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i), (ii), was in the original “section (6)(b)(4)(D)”, and was translated as meaning section 6(b)(4)(D) of title I of Pub. L. 94–469 to reflect the probable intent of Congress. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, referred to in subsecs. (d)(1)(A), (2) and (g)(1), (2)(A), is Pub. L. 114–182, June 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 492. The
Effective Date
of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act probably means the date of the enactment of the Act, which was approved June 22, 2016. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 2016 Amendment note set out under section 2601 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–182, § 13(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) related to effect of chapter on State law. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–182, § 13(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) related to exemption from required testing of chemical substances or mixtures. Subsecs. (c) to (g). Pub. L. 114–182, § 13(3), added subsecs. (c) to (g).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section 31 of Pub. L. 94–469, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 2617
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110