The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule adding sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na, CASRN 82382-12-5) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals.

Important Dates

  • Federal Register Publication: February 27, 2026
  • Effective Date of Final Rule: March 30, 2026
  • TRI Listing Applicability (Reporting Year 2026 begins): January 1, 2026
  • First Reporting Deadline: July 1, 2027

Overview of the Rule

EPA’s action adds PFHxS-Na to the TRI list under the authority of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA).

The update ensures automatic inclusion of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when statutory criteria are met.

Why the Rule Was Issued

The addition was triggered by Section 7321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020 NDAA).

Under this law, PFAS must be added to TRI when specific regulatory milestones occur, including:

  • Finalization of a toxicity value
  • Issuance of a Significant New Use Rule
  • Inclusion in the TSCA Active Inventory

Following EPA’s finalized toxicity assessment of PFHxS and related salts in 2025, the statute required automatic listing.

What’s New

Newly Listed Chemical
  • Chemical Name: Sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS-Na)
  • CAS Number: 82382-12-5
  • Trigger: Finalized toxicity value
Chemical of Special Concern

PFHxS-Na is designated as a Chemical of Special Concern under 40 CFR 372.28. This means:

  • Form A (alternate certification) cannot be used
  • De minimis exemptions do not apply
  • Standard range reporting limitations remain

With this addition, approximately 206 PFAS chemicals are now subject to TRI reporting.

Who Must Report?

Facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use PFHxS-Na above statutory thresholds and fall within covered TRI sectors must report.

Affected sectors include:

  • Chemical, petroleum, and plastics manufacturing
  • Metal fabrication
  • Mining and utilities
  • Hazardous waste treatment and solvent recovery

Facilities must:

  • Track quantities manufactured, processed, or used
  • Submit EPA Form R if thresholds are exceeded
  • File reports electronically through EPA’s TRI system

Regulatory Notes

Good Cause Exemption

EPA did not conduct a notice-and-comment period because the rule is statutorily mandated. The agency has no discretion once triggering criteria are met.

Reporting Burden

No new reporting framework is introduced. Facilities already subject to TRI will use existing reporting systems and Form R requirements.

Industry and Community Impact

For Industry

Companies must update internal chemical inventories and compliance systems to capture PFHxS-Na data for Reporting Year 2026. Environmental teams should prepare for data tracking and documentation updates.

For Communities

The rule enhances public transparency. Communities will gain access to facility-level data on PFHxS-Na releases through the EPA’s TRI database, supporting environmental monitoring and research.

Source: EPA Adds PFHxS-Na to TRI List

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