The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has lauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its recent release of rules regarding a list of toxic substances defined by older legislation and conducting new risk assessments for chemicals as required by newer, year-old law.
Amending the original 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (LCSA) was signed June 22, 2016, with bipartisan support. The new law aims to improve federal oversight for existing and new chemicals, with updated safety standards and enhanced public transparency backed by reliable funding.
Noting that LCSA set “tough but achievable” deadlines, the ACC commended the EPA in a statement, calling the processes “fundamental to EPA’s ability to quickly and efficiently assess chemicals and uses for their priority, evaluate priority risks and take action to manage risks where required.”
“Over the coming days, we will analyze the rules in detail,” the ACC release said. “It is our expectation that under these rules, EPA will not simply meet the minimal requirements of the law but instead establish the framework for a modern chemical management system capable of meeting 21st century demands.”
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