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EDSP Compliance Timing, Procedural and Legal Issues

EDSP Compliance Timing, Procedural and Legal Issues. Terry F. Quill Quill Law Group LLC 1667 K St, NW Washington, DC 20006 202-508-1075 www.QuillLaw.com tquill@QuillLaw.com ISRTP 2010 Endocrine Workshop Bethesda, MD December 13, 2010. Complying with Phase 1 EDSP Test Orders.

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EDSP Compliance Timing, Procedural and Legal Issues

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  1. EDSP Compliance Timing, Procedural and Legal Issues Terry F. Quill Quill Law Group LLC 1667 K St, NW Washington, DC 20006 202-508-1075 www.QuillLaw.com tquill@QuillLaw.com ISRTP 2010 Endocrine Workshop Bethesda, MD December 13, 2010

  2. Complying with Phase 1 EDSP Test Orders • Background and History • Issues Affecting Compliance • Legal Considerations Related to Compliance

  3. Background and History • Perspectives on the science • 1996 • A Troubling Trend • Congressional Reaction • EPA Reaction • EDSP Development and Implementation

  4. Endocrine Disruption Some Perspective on the Science • 1996 – Associations used to claim causation • “Top down” Approach • Concern based on claimed endocrine related effects/trends observed in wildlife and humans. • E.g., decreased sperm counts; increased breast cancer rates; neurological effects (ADD); effects in male fish; alligator penis size; and many others. • “Our Stolen Future” • Tulane study (Additive effects) • Belief that assays were readily available ($50/chem) • Well, what do we know now? • Observations incorrect • No causation

  5. Some Perspective on the Science A Troubling Trend • Focus on mechanism rather than adverse effects • “bottom up” approach • Biochem/Mech data + theory = adverse effect • Changing Definition of “Endocrine Disruption” • Mechanism = adverse effect • Why isn’t an endocrine interaction necessarily indicative of an adverse effect? • Promoting theories and hypotheses rather than evidence of effects • Use of the precautionary principle

  6. Endocrine Disruption in 1996 The Congressional Reaction • Passage of the Food Quality Protection Act • EPA shall “develop a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems and other scientifically relevant information, to determine whether certain substances may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect as the Administrator maydesignate.” • Focus on pesticide chemicals. • EPA shall issue test orders.

  7. Endocrine Disruption in 1996 Congressional Reaction • Passage of Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act In addition to the substances referred to in [the FQPA] the Administrator may provide for testing under the screening program authorized by [the FQPA], in accordance with the provisions of [the FQPA], of any other substance that may be found in sources of drinking water if the Administrator determines that a substantial populationmay be exposed to such substance. 

  8. EPA’s Response (1996-2010) • Development of the EDSP • Two Tiered Screening and Testing Program • Tier 1 Screening: • Identifies substances with potential activity & flags for further testing • Tier 2 Testing • Identifies adverse effects and establishes dose-response relationship for hazard characterization and risk assessment • Endocrine, Androgen and Thyroid • Humans and Wildlife

  9. EPA’s Response • Validate the Tier 1 screens • Is the Tier I battery validated? • Are the Tier 1 assays fully validated? • Phased approach • Per SAP and OMB • 67 “pesticide chemicals” • EDSP Phase 1 • [Phase 2 concerns drinking water contaminants and is discussed this afternoon]

  10. Implementation of Phase 1 • Implementation of EDSP Phase 1 • Final EDSP Policies and Procedures • 74 Fed. Reg. 17516, April 15, 2009 • Non-binding Guidance • Final Listing for Initial Screening • 74 FR 17579, Apr. 15, 2009 • 67 pesticide chemicals (active and inert ingredients) • Information Collection Request (ICR) • 74 FR 17477, Apr. 15, 2009 • Phase 1 Testing Orders Issued • From September 2009 – April 2010 • Establishes legal responsibility

  11. EDSP Implementation Issues • Assess Tier 1 Results and revise the Tier 1 assays and battery • Develop criteria for assessing Tier 1 Results • Use a weight-of-evidence approach • Develop criteria for triggering Tier 2 testing • Use Other Scientifically Relevant Information • Functionally equivalent data • Data sufficient for managing risks

  12. EDSP Implementation Issues • Other Scientifically Relevant Information • FFDCA requires EPA to avoid duplicative testing • OMB Required EPA to consider OSRI • No Agency Guidance • Hard to determine how EPA is assessing ODRI • EPA seems to be confused (by-pass option) • EPA is very slow to respond to OSRI waiver requests • Creates a timing issue • OSRI is discussed later

  13. EDSP Implementation Issues • Problems with Required Test Methods • Test Orders are Prescriptive • Comments provided by Endocrine Policy Forum • Submitted comments in February 2010 • Finally got a meeting with EPA in October 2010 • EPA has still not responded • Creates a timing problem • Protocol modifications are discussed later

  14. EDSP Implementation Issues • Weight of Evidence • EPA must develop WoE guidance for: • Determining whether tier 1 screens are positive • Triggering Tier 2 • Determining whether a substance interacts with the endocrine system • EPA has not produced useful guidance • WoE will be discussed later

  15. Legal Considerations • Your order is the controlling legal document. • Penalty for non-compliance • Cancellation of Registration • Specific dates are provided in the Order along with the process for requesting modifications to the Order, including time extensions

  16. Legal Considerations • Basis for a time extension • EPA’s failure to provide a timely response to OSRI waivers • Confusion concerning Tier 1 bypass provides an additional basis • EPA’s failure to provide test method modification? • See EPA’s Regulatory FAQs • Other problems as they arise (especially problems completing the assays) • Request extension now • Should you start testing?

  17. Potential Administrative and Legal Challenges • Order is final agency action • EPA’s OSRI determinations • Lack of Guidance • Arbitrary Determinations • EPA’s failure to provide meaningful WoE guidance?

  18. Web Sites and Dockets for More Information • EPA EDSP: http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/index.htm • EPA SAP: http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/meetings/2008/032508_mtg.htm • Implementation Policies & Procedures: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1080 • Candidate List: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2004-0109 • ICR: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-1081 • SAP: EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0012

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