EPA Releases the 2018 Plan for Chemical Risk Evaluations under TSCA

As required under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, EPA has released its annual plan for chemical risk evaluations. The annual plan identifies the next steps for the first 10 chemical reviews currently underway, and describes EPA’s work in 2018 to prepare for future risk evaluations.

EPA was required to initiate ten risk evaluations in 2016, and is required to initiate at least 20 more within 3 years after enactment of the Lautenberg Act, or by December 2019. EPA designated the first ten chemical substances on December 19, 2016. By the end of 2018, the EPA will initiate prioritization for 40 chemicals – at least 20 Low-Priority and 20 High-Priority candidates. By December 22, 2019, EPA will designate 20 substances as Low-Priority and initiated risk evaluations on 20 High-Priority substances.

In order to support these risk evaluations and other key aspects of TSCA implementation, EPA stated that it will be proposing a draft TSCA Fees Rule in early 2018, which will provide estimates of the resources required to undertake risk evaluations.