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New Framework for EPA’s Chemical Management Program

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. New Framework for EPA’s Chemical Management Program. Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Director. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Improving EPA’s Chemical Management Program.

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New Framework for EPA’s Chemical Management Program

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  1. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics New Framework for EPA’s Chemical Management Program Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Director

  2. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Improving EPA’s Chemical Management Program • “More than 30 years after Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act, it is clear that we are not doing an adequate job of assessing and managing the risks of chemicals in consumer products, the workplace and the environment. It is now time to revise and strengthen EPA’s chemicals management and risk assessment programs.” - EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, Jan. 23, 2009 • EPA’s effort includes: - Support for legislative reform - Enhanced chemical management program, using current authorities, including TSCA ban and phase out provisions, as appropriate. Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

  3. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Challenges in Implementing TSCA • No mandatory program to determine the safety of existing chemicals. • Difficult legal and procedural hurdles to limit or ban chemicals • Significant hurdles to request the generation and submission of health and environmental effects data • Limited ability to provide public with information on production and risk because of Confidential Business Information claims • Interpreted to encourage deferral of regulation to other statutes Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

  4. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Essential Principles for Legislative Reform of TSCA Chemicals Should be Reviewed Against Safety Standards that are Based on Sound Science and Reflect Risk-based Criteria Protective of Human Health and the Environment.  Manufacturers Should Provide EPA with the Necessary Information to Conclude That New and Existing Chemicals are Safe and Do Not Endanger Public Health or the Environment. Risk Management Decisions Should Take into Account Sensitive Subpopulations, Cost, Availability of Substitutes and Other Relevant Considerations.

  5. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Essential Principles for Legislative Reform of TSCA Manufacturers and EPA Should Assess and Act on Priority Chemicals, Both Existing and New, in a Timely Manner. Green Chemistry Should Be Encouraged and Provisions Assuring Transparency and Public Access to Information Should Be Strengthened. EPA Should Be Given a Sustained Source of Funding for Implementation.

  6. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Legislative Outlook • Wide stakeholder agreement on the need for TSCA Reform. Constructive discussions underway. • April 15, 2010 - Sen. Lautenberg introduced the “Safe Chemicals Act”. - Cong. Rush and Cong. Waxman issued a TSCA reform discussion draft, likely to be introduced this summer following stakeholder discussions.

  7. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Enhanced Chemical Management Program • Comprehensive effort includes: - New regulatory risk management actions - Development of chemical action plans which will target risk management efforts on chemicals of concern. - Requiring information needed to understand chemical risks. - Increasing public access to information about chemicals.

  8. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Taking Action on Chemicals • Released action plans on phthalates, PBDEs, perflourinated chemicals, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, and Bisphenol A. - Include a range of actions including utilizing, for the first time, TSCA authority for a Chemical of Concern list. • Will continue to develop and release action plans on priority chemicals.

  9. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Increasing Transparency • Committed to providing the public with greater access to chemical information - July 2009 – Addition of 530 chemicals on TSCA Inventory - January 2010 – New policy for review of CBI chemical identity claims for notices of substantial risks - March 2010 – Free access to consolidated TSCA inventory on EPA and Data.Gov websites - May 2010 – Integrated TSCA facility and chemical information into Envirofacts - June 2010 – New policy for review of CBI chemical identity claims for all health and safety studies. • Additional efforts in coming months.

  10. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Resources • Essential TSCA Reform Principles http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/ principles.html • Enhanced Chemical Management Program http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/ enhanchems.html • Increasing Transparency http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/ transparency.html

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