{ "id": "RL31905", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL31905", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 445364, "date": "2015-09-14", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:24:04.187229", "title": "The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements", "summary": "This report summarizes the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the major regulatory programs dealing with chemical production and distribution in U.S. commerce. Issues related to TSCA implementation over time are addressed in CRS Report RL34118, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): Implementation and New Challenges, by Linda-Jo Schierow.\nPresident Ford signed TSCA into law on October 11, 1976. Subsequently, five titles were added to address specific concerns\u2014asbestos in 1986 (Title II, P.L. 99-519), radon in 1988 (Title III, P.L. 100-551), lead in 1992 (Title IV, P.L. 102-550), environmental and energy issues in schools in 2007 (Title V, P.L. 110-140), and formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products in 2010 (Title VI, P.L. 111-199). In 2008, Congress added provisions to Title I, Section 6 and Section 12, banning certain activities with respect to elemental mercury (P.L. 110-414).\nTSCA authorizes EPA to identify potentially dangerous chemicals in U.S. commerce that should be subject to federal control. The act authorizes EPA to gather and disseminate information about production, use, and possible adverse effects to human health and the environment of existing chemicals, and to issue \u201ctest rules\u201d that require manufacturers and processors of potentially dangerous chemicals to conduct and report the results of scientific studies to fill information gaps. For chemicals new to U.S. commerce, TSCA requires pre-market screening and regulatory tracking of new chemical products.\nIf EPA identifies unreasonable risks associated with existing or new chemicals, TSCA requires the agency to initiate rulemaking to reduce risks to a reasonable level. EPA may regulate the manufacture, importation, processing, distribution, use, and/or disposal of chemicals. TSCA provides a variety of regulatory tools to EPA, ranging in severity from a total ban on production, import, and use to a requirement that a product must bear a warning label at the point of sale. However, TSCA directs EPA to use the least burdensome option that can reduce risk to a level that is reasonable, given the benefits provided by the chemical product or process.\nTitle I of the original statute establishes the core program, directs EPA to control risks from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and bans certain activities with respect to elemental mercury. Title II directs EPA to set standards for asbestos mitigation in schools and requires asbestos contractors to be trained and certified. Title III directs EPA to provide technical assistance to states that choose to support radon monitoring and control. Title IV provides similar assistance with respect to abatement of lead-based paint hazards. Title V addresses environmental issues at schools, including energy efficiency. Finally, Title VI directs EPA to set standards for emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products. \nIn the 114th Congress, there has been debate on legislation that would amend Title I of TSCA (S. 697, S. 725, and H.R. 2576). These bills would revise the chemical evaluation process and the criteria by which chemical substances would be regulated and to address certain other related purposes. Additional information regarding these bills is available in CRS Report R44024, Proposed Amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the 114th Congress: S. 697, S. 725, and H.R. 2576, by Jerry H. Yen and Alexandra M. 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In addition, this report lists several references for more detailed information about the act and provides a table that cross references sections of the U.S. Code with corresponding sections of the act. The report is descriptive rather than analytic, highlights key provisions rather than providing a comprehensive inventory of the act's numerous sections, and addresses authorities and limitations imposed by statute, rather than the status of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implementation or other policy issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20081118_RL31905_2216b8de64232fa9e9d3c034f8e09686c91f519d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20081118_RL31905_2216b8de64232fa9e9d3c034f8e09686c91f519d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental risk assessment", "name": "Environmental risk assessment" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822342/", "id": "RL31905_2008Jan07", "date": "2008-01-07", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The Toxic Substances Control Act: A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080107_RL31905_40ee75225e983addb7353b7ac7ea0b2741fc839e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080107_RL31905_40ee75225e983addb7353b7ac7ea0b2741fc839e.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847568/", "id": "RL31905_2007Jan03", "date": "2007-01-03", "retrieved": "2016-06-02T05:26:07", "title": "The Toxic Substances Control Act: A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements", "summary": "This report summarizes the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the major regulatory programs dealing with chemical production and distribution in U.S. commerce.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070103_RL31905_e28e74876aad34a3f158cbf34fe5e12146b1d560.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070103_RL31905_e28e74876aad34a3f158cbf34fe5e12146b1d560.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental risk assessment", "name": "Environmental risk assessment" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819607/", "id": "RL31905_2004Dec01", "date": "2004-12-01", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The Toxic Substances Control Act: A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20041201_RL31905_ce28a5c6933117958671f12b00bf690682b7972c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20041201_RL31905_ce28a5c6933117958671f12b00bf690682b7972c.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Environmental Policy" ] }