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Announcements
May 24, 2012 -- EPA will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 to negotiate an Enforceable Consent Agreement (ECA) to collect data on high production volume chemicals D4 and D5 siloxanes. Interested parties must notify the Agency prior to the meeting in order to participate. Learn more.
May 9, 2012 -- Through its Design for the Environment program, EPA released a final alternatives assessment identifying eight safer alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), surfactants widely use in industry and commonly found in consumer products, such as laundry detergents. When released into the environment, NPEs can be persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Read more about NPE. Read the press release.
April 13, 2012 -- To increase transparency and streamline reporting, EPA proposed a rule to require electronic reporting (55 p., 192 kb.) About PDF) of certain information submitted to the Agency under TSCA. Learn more. Read the press release.
March 20, 2012 -- EPA proposed Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act to require companies to report all new uses of five groups of chemicals, including in domestic and imported products, to give EPA the opportunity to review and take action, if warranted, to prohibit or limit the activity. Read the press release.
- Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs)
Comment period has been extended to July 31, 2012 - Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
- Benzidine dyes
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins
- Di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnPP)
EPA Announces TSCA Work Plan Chemicals
March 1, 2012 -- EPA has posted its Work Plan identifying chemicals for risk assessment under TSCA. The effort is part of EPA’s comprehensive approach to enhance the Agency’s current chemicals management program. Read more.
- View the TSCA Work Plan Chemicals (PDF)(11 pp, 454 kb)About PDF
- Find out how EPA identified the Work Plan Chemicals (39 pp., 1.0 mb.) About PDF
- Read EPA’s Existing Chemicals Program Strategy (PDF) (4 pp., 48 kb.) About PDF
Highlights
Submit your CDR Form U! The CDR submissions period is from February 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012. Learn more.
EPA's existing chemical programs address pollution prevention, risk assessment, hazard and exposure assessment and characterization, and risk management for chemical substances in commercial use. The Agency uses statutory authorities including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Pollution Prevention Act and the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act as well as voluntary activities in its implementation of these programs. This site provides information on EPA’s programs for existing chemicals. More about "existing chemicals."
On September 29, 2009, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the release of a set of Essential Principles for Reform of Chemicals Management Legislation. These principles are provided to help inform efforts underway in Congress to reauthorize and significantly strengthen the effectiveness of TSCA.
In parallel with that announcement, EPA initiated a comprehensive approach to enhance the Agency’s current chemicals management program within the limits of existing authorities. This approach has continued to evolve, as described in EPA’s Existing Chemicals Program Strategy (PDF) (4 pp., 48 kb.) About PDF, released in March 2012. As part of this effort, EPA identified a group of TSCA Work Plan Chemicals for risk assessment under TSCA to help focus and direct the activities of the Existing Chemicals Program over the next several years.
