As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers continue to pop up around the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is prioritizing the review of new chemicals that are intended for use in data centers or for the manufacturing of covered components for the projects. The prioritization of reviews began with submissions received on or after September 29, 2025.
President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14318, “Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure,” directs USEPA to expedite permitting on Federal and non-Federal lands under laws, including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), that impact the development of qualifying projects such as AI data centers and the infrastructure that powers them. In line with this directive, USEPA will prioritize review of specific new chemicals to reduce the regulatory burden to companies looking to invest in data centers.
To help companies determine if their chemical and intended use qualify for prioritized review, USEPA has provided instructions. Companies with new chemicals qualifying for prioritized review can identify submissions as a chemical intended for use in a data center project or for the manufacturing of covered components by submitting a cover letter through the Central Data Exchange (CDX). The cover letter addresses new chemical submission identifying the use and the data center where the new chemical or covered component will be used.