EPA Proposes Several Actions to Improve Chemical Reporting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing several actions to improve chemical reporting under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The proposed rule would require manufacturers, including importers, to submit information electronically, which will help the agency to make the data public more quickly, says the agency. It also would limit the information that can be treated as confidential so the public can access it, and require more reporting from chemical manufacturers.

In January, the EPA rejected a confidentiality claim, known as Confidential Business Information (CBI) on the identity of chemicals, to increase the public’s access to information on chemicals.

The launch of the EPA’s Web-based chemicals database, ToxRefDB, followed in April, which allows anyone to search and download thousands of toxicity testing results on hundreds of chemicals.

The Inventory Update Reporting Rule enables EPA to collect and make current information on volumes of chemical production, manufacturing facility data, and how the chemicals are used. This information helps the agency determine whether chemicals may pose risks to people or the environment.

EPA also is proposing to increase the frequency of reporting.

This proposal will undergo public comment, which EPA will use to develop the final rule and guidance documents.

The agency also is seeking public comment on a draft guidance document on chemical information reporting and documents relating to the reporting of chemical byproducts. To submit comments on the proposed rule and the guidance document, see docket EPA–HQ–OPPT–2009-0187: http://www.regulations.gov.