The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976 to keep dangerous chemicals off the market and protect people from exposure to existing chemicals. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, a 2016 amendment of TSCA, strengthened the original law and mandated safety reviews of chemicals already on the market and new chemicals before they are allowed on the market. EPA uses risk evaluations to assess the safety of these chemicals and determine how to eliminate unreasonable risks to people or the environment through prohibitions or restrictions on their use. As required by the Lautenberg Act, on December 19, 2016, the first 10 chemicals selected for risk evaluations were identified. To date, 7 of the 10 chemicals have had draft risk evaluations open to public comment, and EPN has produced comments, provided testimony, and written letters on the following:
Pigment Violet 29 (PV29)
Read First PV29 Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Second Set of PV29 Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Third Set of PV29 Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read PV29 Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Read Revised PV29 Revised Risk Evaluation Comments.
1-Bromopropane (1-BP)
Read 1-BP Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Letter to EPA on Chemical 1-BP.
Read 1-BP Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Methylene Chloride (MC)
Read MC Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read MC Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Read Letter on Serious Health Concerns of MC.
Read MC Final Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD) and 1,4-Dioxane
Read HBCD and 1,4-Dioxane Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Second Set of HBCD and 1,4-Dioxane Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read 1,4-Dioxane Supplemental Analysis Comments.
Carbon Tetrachloride (CT)
Read CT Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Read Letter on Serious Health Concerns of TCE.
Read TCE Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Letter on TCE Final Risk Evaluation.
Perchloroethylene (PERC)
Read PERC Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read PERC Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Asbestos
Read Asbestos Draft Risk Evaluation Comments.
Read Asbestos Draft Risk Evaluation Testimony.
Read Asbestos Final Draft Risk Evaluation Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos Testimony.