On June 22, 2017, the one-year anniversary of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, EPA released the scope documents for the first ten chemicals for which risk evaluation have been initiated under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Each scope document includes the hazards and exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations EPA expects to consider in the risk evaluation.
The Act amends the nation’s primary chemicals management law known as the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The legislation provides significant new responsibilities and authorities to the EPA to advance chemical safety. EPA has completed the following implementation activities at this one-year anniversary:
Finalized a rule to establish EPA’s process and criteria for identifying high priority chemicals for risk evaluation and low priority chemicals for which risk evaluation is not needed. In response to public comments, this final rule affirms EPA’s commitment to following the best available science, engaging stakeholders in the prioritization process, and recognizing the value of designating chemicals as low priority when appropriate. Read more: http://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/prioritizing-existing-chemicals-risk-evaluation
The first 10 chemicals EPA selected for evaluation are: Asbestos; 1,4-Dioxane; 1-Bromopropane; Carbon tetrachloride; Methylene chloride; N-methylpyrrolidonee; Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene); Trichloroethylene; Pigment Violet 29; and a cluster of cyclic aliphatic bromide flame retardants.
Under the amended TSCA rules, EPA must begin evaluating one new chemical each time it completes an assessment. By the end of 2019, the agency is required to have a minimum of 20 evaluations ongoing at any given time. If EPA finds an unacceptable risk for any of the chemicals, the agency must take regulatory action to reduce that risk within two years of completing the evaluation.
For more information on EPA’s progress to date and a full list of all the TSCA implementation activities, go to: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act-5