Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) have co-sponsored legislation along with 14 other Senators from both sides of the Senate to reform the 37-year-old Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA).The proposed legislation expands the current law giving greater authority to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to require safety testing after there is evidence that a chemical is dangerous. Other changes include the following: All chemicals currently in the marketplace would be evaluated for safety and prioritized as "high" or "low" risk to human health and the environment. US EPA would be given authority to conduct additional tests for the chemicals deemed to be "high." This agency would have authority to take action on unsafe chemcials, including mandating labeling requirements, phasing out use, and banning chemicals. Under the provisions of the bill, the legislation offers trade secret and intellectual property protection and requires that chemical manufacturers give this agency health and safety information.
SOT's TSCA Subcommittee will be monitoring the progress of this legislation and will take steps to work with Committee staff in both Houses to provide education and technical expertise if called upon to do so.