---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 2620"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "2620"
heading: "Citizens’ petitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/2620"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Toxic Substances Control"
  - "Subchapter I — Control of Toxic Substances"
---

# §2620. Citizens’ petitions

- (a) **In general—** Any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) may petition the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) to initiate a proceeding for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md), [2605](/usc/15/2605.md), or [2607](/usc/15/2607.md) of this title or an order under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md) or [2604(e)](/usc/15/2604.md?p=e) or (f) of this title.
- (b) **Procedures—**
  - (1) Such petition shall be filed in the principal office of the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) and shall set forth the facts which it is claimed establish that it is necessary to issue, amend, or repeal a rule under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md), [2605](/usc/15/2605.md), or [2607](/usc/15/2607.md) of this title or an order under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md) or [2604(e)](/usc/15/2604.md?p=e) or (f) of this title.
  - (2) The [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) may hold a public hearing or may conduct such investigation or proceeding as the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) deems appropriate in order to determine whether or not such petition should be granted.
  - (3) Within 90 days after filing of a petition described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) shall either grant or deny the petition. If the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) grants such petition, the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) shall promptly commence an appropriate proceeding in accordance with section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md), [2604](/usc/15/2604.md), [2605](/usc/15/2605.md), or [2607](/usc/15/2607.md) of this title. If the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) denies such petition, the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1)’s reasons for such denial.
  - (4)
    - (A) If the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) denies a petition filed under this section (or if the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) fails to grant or deny such petition within the 90-day period) the petitioner may commence a civil action in a district court of the [United States](/usc/15/2602.md?p=17) to compel the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) to initiate a rulemaking proceeding as requested in the petition. Any such action shall be filed within 60 days after the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1)’s denial of the petition or, if the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) fails to grant or deny the petition within 90 days after filing the petition, within 60 days after the expiration of the 90-day period.
    - (B) In an action under [subparagraph (A)](#b-4-A) respecting a petition to initiate a proceeding to issue a rule under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md), [2605](/usc/15/2605.md), or [2607](/usc/15/2607.md) of this title or an order under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md) or [2604(e)](/usc/15/2604.md?p=e) or (f) of this title, the petitioner shall be provided an opportunity to have such petition considered by the court in a de novo proceeding. If the petitioner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court by a preponderance of the evidence that—
      - (i) in the case of a petition to initiate a proceeding for the issuance of a rule under [section 2603 of this title](/usc/15/2603.md) or an order under section [2603](/usc/15/2603.md) or [2604(e)](/usc/15/2604.md?p=e) of this title—
        - (I) information available to the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) is insufficient to permit a reasoned evaluation of the health and environmental effects of the [chemical substance](/usc/15/2602.md?p=2-A) to be subject to such rule or order; and
        - (II) in the absence of such information, the substance may present an unreasonable risk to health or the [environment](/usc/15/2602.md?p=6), or the substance is or will be produced in substantial quantities and it enters or may reasonably be anticipated to enter the [environment](/usc/15/2602.md?p=6) in substantial quantities or there is or may be significant or substantial human exposure to it; or
      - (ii) in the case of a petition to initiate a proceeding for the issuance of a rule under section [2605(a)](/usc/15/2605.md?p=a) or [2607](/usc/15/2607.md) of this title or an order under [section 2604(f) of this title](/usc/15/2604.md?p=f), the [chemical substance](/usc/15/2602.md?p=2-A) or [mixture](/usc/15/2602.md?p=10) to be subject to such rule or order presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the [environment](/usc/15/2602.md?p=6), without consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors, including an unreasonable risk to a [potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation](/usc/15/2602.md?p=12), under the [conditions of use](/usc/15/2602.md?p=4).[^1]

      the court shall order the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) to initiate the action requested by the petitioner. If the court finds that the extent of the risk to health or the [environment](/usc/15/2602.md?p=6) alleged by the petitioner is less than the extent of risks to health or the [environment](/usc/15/2602.md?p=6) with respect to which the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) is taking action under this chapter and there are insufficient resources available to the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) to take the action requested by the petitioner, the court may permit the [Administrator](/usc/15/2602.md?p=1) to defer initiating the action requested by the petitioner until such time as the court prescribes.

    - (C) The court in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to [subparagraph (A)](#b-4-A) may award costs of suit and reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses if the court determines that such an award is appropriate. Any court, in issuing its decision in an action brought to review such an order, may award costs of suit and reasonable fees for attorneys if the court determines that such an award is appropriate.
  - (5) The remedies under this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other remedies provided by law.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–469, title I, § 21, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2042; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 99–519, § 3(c)(1), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2989; amended Pub. L. 114–182, title I, § 19(o), June 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 509.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(o)(1), substituted “order under section 2603 or 2604(e) or (f) of this title” for “order under section 2604(e) or 2605(b)(2) of this title”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(o)(2)(A), substituted “order under section 2603 or 2604(e) or (f) of this title” for “order under section 2604(e), 2605(b)(1)(A), or 2605(b)(1)(B) of this title”.

Subsec. (b)(4)(B). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(o)(2)(B)(i), substituted “order under section 2603 or 2604(e) or (f) of this title” for “order under section 2604(e) or 2605(b)(2) of this title” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(o)(2)(B)(ii), substituted “order under section 2603 or 2604(e) of this title” for “order under section 2604(e) of this title” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(o)(2)(B)(iii), substituted “section 2605(a) or 2607 of this title or an order under section 2604(f) of this title, the chemical substance or mixture to be subject to such rule or order presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors, including an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation, under the conditions of use” for “section 2605 or 2607 of this title or an order under section 2605(b)(2) of this title, there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the issuance of such a rule or order is necessary to protect health or the environment against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment”.

### 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.