U.S. EPA’s Chemicals Management Program

CEC Chemicals Management ForumMay 15-16, 2012

Barbara CunninghamOffice of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

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Introduction: U.S. EPA’s Chemicals Management Program

• Primary laws administered: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) & Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)

• Includes new & existing chemicals programs; risk management for specific chemicals; and prevention-oriented initiatives

• Other EPA offices have responsibility for monitoring & research; the Toxics Release Inventory; and enforcement & compliance

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Key Features of the Program

• EPA has the authority to collect & review chemicals information and assess & manage potential risks

• EPA maintains the U.S. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, which contains more than 83,000 chemicals

• In an average year, between 500-1,000 chemicals are added to the TSCA Inventory

• EPA requires those importing or exporting chemicals to comply with certification reporting and/or other requirements

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Existing Chemicals Management Program

• Existing Chemicals Program Strategy– Three-Pronged Approach– Will ensure a workable, consistent, comprehensive

approach for existing chemicals• Other Existing Chemical Program Activities

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)

• Routine data collection, now every four years• Current submission period: February 1 and June 30, 2012

– Full manufacturing data for calendar year 2011 (includes importers) – Production volume only for calendar year 2010 when 2011 site-specific

production volume equals or exceeds 25,000 lb– Processing and use data for calendar year 2011 when 2011 site-specific

production volume equals or exceeds 100,000 lb• 2012 submissions to include additional consumer and

commercial use data:– Separately identify consumer or commercial application– Provide number of commercial workers reasonably likely to be exposed to

the chemical• This spring, EPA intends to engage stakeholders & the public on

how the agency can best analyze and present CDR information in a way that is most useful to them.

Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

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High Production Volume (HPV) Chemicals

• HPV Chemicals: produced or imported in the United States in quantities of 1 million pounds or more per year

• Basic data needed to understand and characterize the potential hazards associated with these chemicals

• Types of data obtained through voluntary HPV Challenge Program and test rules issued by EPA:– physical-chemical properties– health and environmental effects information

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Public Access to Chemical Data & Information

• Focus on accessibility and usability of data • Since 2009, EPA has taken a range of significant steps to

increase the public’s access to information:– Launch of Chemical Access Data Tool (CDAT) to assist the public in

accessing TSCA information – Linkage with EPA’s other information tools:

• Envirofacts: EPA’s one-stop source for environmental information• Facility Registry System: information about facilities or sites• ACToR: warehouse of publicly available chemical toxicity data

– Steps to eliminate unwarranted Confidential Business Information (CBI) claims

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Chemicals Management Program – Ongoing Efforts

• In 2012, continue to carry out risk management activities:– Test rules, new use restrictions, other information

gathering efforts– Final Alternatives Assessments for BPA, DecaBDE, HBCD

and NP/NPE; phthalates in 2013– Risk management for PBDEs, HBCD, Alkanes, DnPP, and

Benzidine Dyes, MDI/TDI – Developing implementing regulations for formaldehyde

in pressed wood products– Implementing U.S. Mercury Export Ban Act

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Participation in CEC SMOC Working Group

• Information sharing & trilateral projects can help advance national programs

• Opportunity to combine efforts to address issues of trilateral interest by:– Comparing chemical data from the three countries, as

well as improving public access to data– Collaborating on risk reduction strategies for chemicals of

interest, and sharing best practices– Building capacity for compatible approaches to

environmental monitoring and assessment

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Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Resources

To learn more about TSCA and EPA’s Chemicals Management Program: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/

Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

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