Compliance Assistance

About this sector

The chemical manufacturing sector covers the transformation of organic and inorganic raw materials by a chemical process and the formation of products. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 28; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 325.

The agricultural chemical, pesticide and fertilizer manufacturing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following:

1. Manufacturing nitrogenous or phosphatic fertilizer materials;
2. Manufacturing fertilizers from sewage or animal waste;
3. Manufacturing nitrogenous or phosphatic materials and mixing with other ingredients into fertilizers;
4. Mixing ingredients made elsewhere into fertilizers;
5. Engaged in the formulation and preparation of agricultural and household pest control chemicals. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 287; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 3253.

The organic chemical manufacturing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic organic chemicals (except petrochemicals, industrial gases, and synthetic dyes and pigments). The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 286; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 32519.

The inorganic chemical manufacturing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic inorganic chemicals (except industrial gases and synthetic dyes and pigments). The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 281; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 32518.

Additional Compliance Assistance information is provided based by statute (e.g. Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act) or through compliance incentives and auditing. Note that multiple statutes may apply to your entity. Information on EPA's compliance monitoring program also is organized by statutory programs. All regulated entities may be subject to EPA's statutory and civil enforcement program.

Top of page

Tools and information on how to comply

The following list of resources focuses on federal regulations and is not exhaustive. Additional resources may be available from other parts of EPA or from other federal, state or local agencies.

ChemAlliance provides up-to-date information concerning the environmental regulations affecting the chemical industry. 

The Border Compliance Assistance Center provides information that you need to know to transport cargo from Mexico into the United States, with special attention to solid and hazardous wastes.

The Profile of the Organic Chemical Industry, the Profile of the Inorganic Chemical Industry and the Profile of the Agriculture Chemical, Pesticide and Fertilizer Industry Sector Notebooks are plain language booklets that describe environmental problems associated with major U.S. industries. Information includes, but is not limited to, regulatory requirements, pollution prevention techniques, pollutant release data and innovative programs.

National Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse links to public and private compliance assistance materials. Users may post documents and interact with assistance providers, both within and outside of EPA. The Clearinghouse allows users to search for relevant material on new and existing regulations, pollution prevention opportunities, and voluntary programs that were created by other parts of EPA, other federal agencies, tribes, states and local agencies, industry and other organizations.

Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) compliance monitoring program, through laboratory inspections and data audits, assures the quality and integrity of test data submitted to the Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance Study Program- An annual quality assurance study conducted to evaluate the analytical and reporting ability of permittees and laboratories routinely performing inorganic chemistry and whole-effluent toxicity self-monitoring analyses required in NPDES permits.

Pesticide Establishment Registration and Reporting - Information on registering establishments that produce pesticides and pesticidal devices as well as the reporting requirements for such companies.

Chemical Substance Import/Export Program - EPA regulates import and export of toxic chemicals from the United States under the TSCA. Specific requirements apply.

There are requirements for importing and exporting pesticides into and out of the United States, including the notice of arrival.

Top of page