Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • EPA Administrator
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History
    • Staff Directory
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program
Contact Us

Addition of NPEs Category to TRI List Final Rule

Addition of NPEs Category to TRI List Final Rule
Basic Information
Legal Authorities
  • 42 U.S.C. §11023
  • 42 U.S.C. §11048
Federal Register Citations
  • 83 FR 27291
Code of Federal Regulations Citations
  • 40 CFR Part 372
Docket Numbers
  • EPA-HQ-TRI-2016-0222
Effective Date
  • November 30, 2018

On this page:

  • Rule Summary
  • Rule History
  • Additional Resources
  • Compliance

Rule Summary

On June 7, 2018, EPA finalized a rule that adds a category of 13 specific nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals. NPEs are nonionic surfactants used in adhesives, wetting agents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, dispersants, defoamers, cleaners, paints, and coatings.

The final rule is effective for the 2019 TRI reporting year with the first forms due July 1, 2020.

EPA finalized this rule because we have determined that longer-chain NPEs can break down in the environment to short-chain NPEs and nonylphenol, both of which are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. For this reason, EPA has determined that NPEs meet the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) section 313(d)(2)(C) toxicity listing criteria.

Rule History

Basis for Adding an NPEs Category

EPA has determined that NPEs meet the ECPRA section 313(d)(2)(C) environmental effects listing criteria based on the available toxicity data, which indicate that short-chain NPEs are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Long-chain NPEs, while not as toxic as short-chain NPEs, can break down to short-chain NPEs and nonylphenol, both of which are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. 

Definition of the NPEs Category

EPA has created an NPEs category that covers 13 NPEs as identified through Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers (CASRNs) and names:

CAS Number Chemical Name
7311-27-5 Ethanol, 2-[2-[2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethoxy]-
9016-45-9 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-
20427-84-3 Ethanol, 2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]-
26027-38-3 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(4-nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-
26571-11-9 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24-Octaoxahexacosan-1-ol, 26-(nonylphenoxy)-
27176-93-8 Ethanol, 2-[2-(nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]-
27177-05-5 3,6,9,12,15,18,21-Heptaoxatricosan-l-ol, 23-(nonylphenoxy)-
27177-08-8 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27-Nonaoxanonacosan-1-ol, 29-(nonylphenoxy)-
27986-36-3 Ethanol, 2-(nonylphenoxy)-
37205-87-1 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(isononylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-
51938-25-1 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(2-isononylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-
68412-54-4 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-, branched
127087-87-0 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-(4-nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-, branched

Facilities that manufacture, process or otherwise use NPEs covered under these names and CASRNs file just one TRI reporting form.

Uses of NPEs

NPEs are nonionic surfactants used in adhesives, wetting agents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, dispersants, defoamers, cleaners, paints, and coatings.

Additional Resources

Federal Register notice for the proposed Addition of NPEs Category rule.
Learn more about NPEs.

Compliance

EPA estimates that 178 facilities will be affected by this rule. 114 of these facilities are each expected to submit a TRI reporting Form R containing release and waste management data for NPEs. The other 64 facilities are expected to submit the shorter TRI reporting Form A.

  • TRI Program Home
  • What is TRI?
    • Covered Chemicals
    • Covered Industry Sectors
  • Reporting for Facilities
    • Guidance (GuideME)
    • Reporting Software (TRI-MEweb)
    • Laws & Regulatory Activities
    • Enforcement
  • Find, Understand & Use TRI
    • TRI Data & Tools
    • TRI National Analysis
    • TRI Pollution Prevention
      • P2 Analyses
      • P2 Resources
    • Data Quality
    • What You Can Do
  • TRI Site Map
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 30, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.