Chemical Regulatory Reporting & Security

Chemical Reporting

Each lab or work area with chemicals needs to submit a report, whether or not the lab or work area has any of the regulated substances. The reporting period begins October 9, 2024 and must be submitted by December 11, 2024.

To submit your report for your PI or Supervisor’s lab(s) online go to the Annual Chemical Reporting Application in Atlas. For more detail about the reporting requirements, how to submit the report, and the list of chemicals (Chemical Regulatory Reporting Worksheet) you’re required to report on, see below.

• Chemical Reporting SOP (certificate login required)
• Chemical Reporter Instruction Sheet
• Chemical Regulatory Reporting Worksheet/List

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reporting has been combined for efficiency.

• Please submit the combined SARA/DHS chemical regulatory report for your PI or Supervisor’s lab(s) s online at: Chemical Reporting Application in Atlas. (Go to Atlas, select “Full Catalog” from the left menu, then search for “EHS PI Space,” select “Annual Chemical Reporting.”) You must submit the report whether or not you have any of these regulated substances.
• You will need to provide usage information, such as how many people in the lab use them, how much is used at a time and how often, where is it being used (fume hood, bench area) and a brief description of the process(es) they are being used in, if you have one or both of the following chemicals.
  • Formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and/or formalin
  • Methylene Chloride / Dichloromethane. You will also need to indicate if the chemical is used for more than 30 days.
• If your lab has a complete, up-to-date chemical inventory in the EHS Office-supported inventory system (EHS Assistant – EHSA), there is a filter you can run to extract your reportable chemicals. Go to Inventory / Quick Chemical Entry and Search, then select List Filter / MIT Annual Chemical Report. On the resulting page, select Options / Export to Excel to see your reportable chemical list. Please note you must have chemical abstract service numbers (CAS #’s) associated with your chemicals for this filter to work.
• Annual Chemical Reporting Support for Labs Using EHS Assistant (EHSA) – Labs using EHSA, or new labs wishing to use EHSA for their inventories can ask for assistance with their labs’ 2024 Annual Chemical Report. Submit a request form for annual chemical reporting assistance no later than Wednesday, November 27, 2024. In addition:
  • If a new lab wishes to begin using EHSA, submit a request form and attach the lab’s current inventory spreadsheet to the request. An EHSA Lab can also request an upload of a more recent version of the lab’s chemical inventory by attaching it to the request form. This will be a first-come, first-served support service model.
  • After EHS has input the lab’s chemical report in the Atlas Annual Chemical Report System, EHS will email the requester to verify the lab’s submitted report in Chemical Reporting Application in Atlas.
  • If adding a new, or substituting an updated chemical inventory to EHSA, the lab inventory should be a well-formatted Excel or Google Docs inventory (including both chemical containers and gas cylinders, and their CAS #’s, chemical names, physical state, quantity, amount and chemical room location). Please reference/use the EHSA Excel Template, which lists the required fields (red column headers) needed to upload to EHSA. Once you have provided the inventory spreadsheet, EHS will reach out to the lab to discuss next steps or resolve any questions.
  • To request more information about this reporting support service, EHS Assistant, or to request a demonstration, please email environment@mit.edu.The person submitting the EHSA Annual Chemical Report Assistance Request will need to confirm that: the inventory is up-to-date; chemicals have associated CAS #’s; gases are listed in the inventory; and if a lab has formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and/or formalin or Methylene Chloride / Dichloromethane that – lab usage procedures are provided.

For further instructions or questions, please contact the EHS Office at environment@mit.edu, or call 617-452-3477.

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Chemical Security

Chemical security is aimed at preventing the theft or potential misuse of hazardous chemicals, which may be toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive.  To achieve this and to comply with DHS CFATs, the following requirements apply to any spaces with hazardous chemicals:

• Inventories must be maintained for all hazardous chemicals.
  • As specified in the Chemical Hygiene Plan each laboratory working with chemicals is required to have an inventory.
  • Although not mandated by the Institute, EHS Assistant (EHSA), an online chemical inventory application, has been provided by the EHS Office at no charge to all MIT users. If you are interested in learning more about EHS Assistant, contact the EHS Office (environment@mit.edu or call 617-452-3477).
• All laboratories or storerooms containing hazardous chemicals must be kept locked when laboratory personnel are not present. Access to these spaces must be restricted to authorized personnel only.
• Keep unusually toxic or hazardous materials such as substances with a high degree of acute and/or chronic toxicity, explosives and certain highly reactive and/or corrosive substances in locked storage cabinets or storerooms. Highly toxic chemicals must be stored under a second layer of security.

Please reference your chemical hygiene plan for further information regarding chemical security specific to your lab.