TSCA reform: NYT calls for more high-priority chemical assessments, House bill formally introduced.

Even while Congress is in recess this week, the cause of reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) continues to progress. Notably, the New York Times Editorial Board is calling for stronger regulation of chemicals by requiring and empowering EPA to evaluate “at least 20 high-priority chemicals a year of its own choosing.” The editorial describes the current TSCA reform proposals in Congress as “a substantial improvement” while simultaneously decrying the bills’ failure to provide “speedy evaluations of the most worrisome chemicals among tens of thousands that have never been tested for safety.” The Times notes the “remarkable feat” of attracting 20 Republican and 20 Democratic co-sponsors to the Senate bill, but criticizes the legislation’s “slow pace of designating high-priority chemicals that require safety assessments.” The editorial also claims that under the House proposal, EPA would be tied up with conducting industry-initiated assessments instead of “chemicals the agency might regard as posing the highest risk.”

Meanwhile, Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) formally introduced his bill, the TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2576), on Tuesday. The legislation’s initial co-sponsors are Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Paul Tonko (D-NY). The bill was unanimously approved by the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy earlier this month.

Rep. Shimkus’ TSCA reform bill receives unanimous, bipartisan approval in House Subcommittee.

The House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy unanimously approved the Toxic Substances Control Act Modernization Act of 2015, a revised version of the bill first introduced by Subcommittee Chair Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) last month to fix key flaws in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). At today’s markup, Rep. Shimkus said he was “more encouraged than ever” that the outdated law would finally be modernized to meet the public’s expectations and protect human health and the environment.

Yesterday, Rep. Shimkus was joined by new co-sponsors Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee; Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee; and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the full Committee, in unveiling changes to the draft bill and calling for the legislation’s passage. The changes addressed some of the most criticized and controversial aspects of the original draft and TSCA reform, including timelines for chemical assessments and federal preemption of state laws.

Rep. Shimkus emphasized that the revised legislation’s basic approach remained the same as in his original draft: empowering EPA to review existing chemicals on the market and “make science-based decisions about whether they pose an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment.” Under the bill, EPA would first assess the safety of a chemical based on hazard and exposure. Cost and other economic factors, including benefits, would not be considered until the second step, when EPA chooses how to regulate the assessed chemical, and a “reasonable transition period” would be required.

Changes from the original bill include:

  • Requires EPA to complete at least 10 chemical assessments per year and to issue risk management rules within 90 days completing an assessment;
  • Creates an accelerated path for assessing persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances;
  • Sets different timelines for completing assessments depending on whether they are initiated by EPA or requested by industry;
  • Explicitly preserves private causes of action and existing state laws not in conflict with TSCA, including California’s Proposition 65 and other chemical laws passed before August 1, 2015;
  • Limits the effectiveness of federal preemption of state chemical laws until after EPA makes a final assessment decision;
  • Ensures that user fees are spent only for specific purposes, rather than deposited in the Treasury’s General Fund;
  • Allows EPA to issue five-year “critical use” exemptions for chemicals if the agency’s regulatory requirements would not be cost-effective for a specific use and EPA determines that application of the requirement “would significantly disrupt the national economy, national security, or critical infrastructure.”

While subpanel members were all supportive of the new draft, some remaining issues were highlighted. Rep. Shimkus encouraged a bipartisan effort to amend TSCA section 8, which the current draft does not address.

Both industry and environmental groups have voiced support for the new version of the bill. The American Chemistry Council called it “balanced” and “pragmatic,” while the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition said the changes brought the legislation “within striking distance of meaningful, if limited, reform.”

The bill now proceeds to the full Energy and Commerce Committee, which may schedule a markup as soon as next week.

Udall-Vitter TSCA reform bill gains momentum on the way to Senate floor; House markup expected soon.

The bipartisan Senate bill to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) conforms to the Obama Administration’s principles for TSCA reform, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, thus adding momentum to Congress’ protracted effort to overhaul the nation’s outdated chemical safety laws. While appearing last week before the Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, McCarthy lauded recent changes to S. 697, which was approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week. Responding to questions from Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), who introduced the legislation along with Senator David Vitter (R-LA), McCarthy noted that EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Jim Jones had previously identified the proposal’s shortcomings, but “the most recent amendments really addressed those issues.” McCarthy also confirmed that the Udall-Vitter bill would provide EPA with the “tools it needs” to effectively regulate asbestos, saying the agency could designate asbestos as a high priority chemical subject to assessment and regulatory determinations.

After meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to schedule floor time for the bill, Sen. Udall expects S. 697 to reach the Senate floor in June, where it might take three to six weeks to pass as other legislators, including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), are likely to offer several amendments. Senators Vitter and Jim Inhofe (R-LA) are also expected to discuss the matter with the Majority Leader soon, although Sen. McConnell’s office says no decision on scheduling has been made yet.

On the House side, Sen. Udall said that the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy would hold a markup on May 18, calling it “a very good sign” that both bodies were “moving in tandem.” The legislation in the House, introduced by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), provides for a more limited overhaul of TSCA and does not currently contain the controversial state preemption provisions found in the Senate bill. Rep. Shimkus told E&E Daily that he is a “big fan” of the compromise amendments made to S. 697 which won over support from Democrats.

Critics of S. 697, including the Environmental Working Group and Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition, are more sanguine about Rep. Shimkus’ bill because it does not present the “regulatory void” problem found in S. 697, where states would be prevented from banning chemicals while EPA is in the process of reviewing the substances for potential regulatory action. Other stakeholders are skeptical of the House legislation’s limited scope; E&E Daily reports that Environmental Defense Fund senior scientist Richard Denison said the bill fails to fix “even the core problems of TSCA.” American Chemistry Council spokesperson Ann Kolton told E&E Daily that the industry group “will be ready to support efforts in any way we can be helpful to find the right balance between the two bills.”

If both the House and Senate bills pass, legislators would face significant challenges in reconciling the two proposals in conference committee, particularly regarding the issue of state preemption.

EPA releases interim guidance on data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides and food contact surfaces.

Last week, EPA released interim guidance on the agency’s toxicology data requirements for antimicrobial pesticides on food contact surfaces. The interim guidance clarifies that the 200 parts per billion (ppb) threshold that triggers different data requirements is based on “total estimated daily dietary intake” for an individual and not the total amount of residue on a food item, which interpretation is in line with the policy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Generally, if pesticide residues from food contact services are found in food at 200 ppb or less, EPA requires the submission of certain toxicology data, and additional data may be required if residues are greater than 200 ppb.

The interim guidance was issued as part of a March 2, 2015 settlement reached between the EPA and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) resolving the trade group’s challenge of EPA’s 2013 Final Rule on “Data Requirements for Antimicrobial Pesticides.” The settlement also requires that EPA propose, by July 2, 2015, a guidance document called the “Antimicrobial Pesticide Use Site Index,” which will be subject to public comment. In addition, by September 2, 2017, the agency must propose a “correction” to 40 C.F.R. § 158.2230(d) clarifying that the 200 ppb level relates to total estimated daily dietary intake, consistent with the FDA policy.