Regulatory Information
OPPT Home Page www.epa.gov/opptintr
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances of EPA administers the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act (ASHAA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The mission of the office is: to protect and improve public health and the environment, to achieve risk reduction, sustainability, environmental justice, and enhance the quality of life, to promote safer designs and wiser use of materials, products, processes, practices, technologies, and disposal methods, using pollution prevention as the principle of first choice to provide information, education, and technical assistance to empower the public to make informed decisions on the risks associated with toxic substances.
TSCA Testing Program www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/index.htm
This site describes OPPT's Testing and Screening Program and its objectives while serving as the major link to information about core TSCA regulations. Links are available to Section 4 testing, the Master Testing List, the Interagency Testing Committee, Screening Information Datasets, the High Production Volume Chemicals List, general information under Sections 8, 12(b) and 13, PAIR reporting forms, and TSCATS.
TSCA, 15 U.S.C. Chapter 53 www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/15/ch53.html
The TSCA statute is available for printing through Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. The code includes all amendments, including Subchapter II, Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response, Subchapter III, Indoor Radon Abatement, and Subchapter IV, Lead Exposure Reduction.
TSCA Inventory www.pdc.cornell.edu/issearch/tscasrch.html
Cornell University also offers users access to the TSCA Inventory through a searchable database. To conduct a search, the user must enter a CAS number or a full chemical name. The University uses the version produced by Solutions Software, which includes flags for regulations under particular sections of TSCA, SARA 313, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and RCRA. The information is updated every six months by the Chemical Abstracts Service, distributed to NTIS, and purchased and enhanced by Solutions Software.
TSCA Inventory -Ordering Information www.ntis.gov/yellowbook/1nty268.htm
To get a full copy of the TSCA Inventory, users must purchase it on disk or CD ROM from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). At this site, the user can get price information and ordering numbers to get the latest copy.
40 CFR Sections 700-799 www.epa.gov/docs/epacfr40/chapt-I.info/subch-R
The most recent version of the CFR is available in pdf format to be viewed by the Adobe Acrobat reader. If the user does not have the Adobe software, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe home page at www.adobe.com.
TSCA Federal Registers www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX
The federal registers are arranged by date for those issued since October of 1994. Important Federal Registers occurring before that date are archived by date and title.
CORR List www.epa.gov/opptintr/CORR
The Chemicals on Reporting Rules List is a quarterly publication that contains two files to be downloaded into the user's own database software. The "chemical" file contains a list of chemicals by CAS number regulated under Sections 4,5,6, and 8 of TSCA and Section 313 of EPCRA. The "fedreg" file contains the list of FR citations which are relevant to the regulations of the substances in the "chemical" file. Users should be sure to read the instructions contained in the "readme" file before beginning the download.
Biotechnology Home Page www.epa.gov/opptintr/biotech/
Under the scope of TSCA, genetically engineered microorganisms are reportable to the Inventory. On April 11, 1997, the rules and regulations for Inventory reporting were finalized. At this Internet site, users can download the regulations, guidance documents for reporting, risk assessments for certain organisms, and status reports.
Chemical Abstract Service www.cas.org
CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, is the producer of the world's largest and most comprehensive databases of chemical information. The TSCA Inventory is available online for members for searches through STN. CAS also provides information regarding chemical lists of other countries, including the European, the Canadian, and the Korean inventories.
EPA Civil Court Cases www.rtk.net/www/data/doc_gen.html
Through the Right to Know Network, the public has access to a variety of information. At this site, users can search for enforcement information and cases for all EPA statutes.
Harmonized Testing Guidelines www.epa.gov/opptsfrs/home/testmeth.htm
OPPT has been working with the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to harmonize test guidelines, which reduce non-tariff trade barriers. Harmonization creates testing guidelines that are consistent between EPA program offices and OECD member countries. At this site, users can print copies of 10 different sets of the 800 series.
Toxics & Pesticides Enforcement Division www.epa.gov/envirosense/oeca/ore/tped
This division of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) handles enforcement activities for TSCA, FIFRAand EPRCA. Users have access to enforcement response policies, enforcement guidance, civil penalty policies and information about Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs).
Publications
8(e) Triage www.epa.gov/opptintr/8e_triag
Under section 8(e), manufacturers, importers, and distributors of chemical substances and mixtures are required to inform EPA of studies and data that reasonably support the conclusion that the chemical presents a substantial risk of injury to human health or the environment. The Triage contains information about particular 8(e) submissions, an EPA ranking system used to prioritize the submissions by toxicity concern, and summary test information.
Aqueous and Semi-aqueous Solvent Chemicals www.epa.gov/opptintr/solvents
The purpose of the aqueous solvents hazard guide is to inform companies about the environmental effects of the aqueous and semi-aqueous products so they can choose the most environmentally safe solvent that satisfies their precise need. The guide is available for printing.
Chemicals in Progress Bulletin www.epa.gov/ChemLibCIP
The CIP bulletin is a quarterly newsletter which highlights regulatory and program activities of OPPT. Regular features and news items include the existing chemicals program, new chemicals program, pollution prevention activities, the design for the environment program, and TRI.
Chemicals in the Environment: Public Access Information www.epa.gov/cie
The CIE publication is an information product developed to provide the general public, environmental groups, educational organizers, state and local organizations, and other interested parties with access to many of OPPT's information products and services.
Chemistry Assistance Manual for PMN Submitterswww.epa.gov/opptintr/chem-pmn
To increase the Agency's ability to perform accurate risk assessments, the New Chemical Branch developed a guide to aid in the preparation of PMNs. The manual is intended primarily for people in the chemical industry who are involved with the design and the development of new chemical substances. Additional guidance is provided in the technical aspects of PMN reporting, especially for the submission of physiochemical property data.
Consumer Labeling Initiative www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/index.html
At this site, users can download a copy of the first phase report on the initiative to foster pollution prevention, empower consumer choice, and improve consumer understanding of safe use, environmental, and health information on household consumer product labels.
HPV Chemical List: CUS 90B www.epa.gov/opptintr/main/hpv.htm
When manufacturers report information under the Inventory Update Rule, the data are put into the Chemical Update System. The list, referenced in the 1997 EDF report "Toxic Ignorance, " lists production volumes of organic chemicals manufactured over 1 million pounds annually for the 1990 IUR.
Lighting Waste Disposal www.epa.gov/GCDOAR/waste.html
This manual, produced by the EPA Green Lights program, reviews the regulations and policies under RCRA and TSCA for the disposal of florescent light ballasts that contain PCBs.
Master Testing List www.epa.gov/opptintr/main/mtl.htm
The Master Testing list is used by OPPT to establish the Existing Chemical Testing Program agenda. The MTL presents a consolidated listing of OPPT's existing chemical testing priorities as well as those of other EPA program Offices, other Federal agencies, the TSCA Interagency Testing Committee, and international organizations such as OECD.
NCEPI www.epa.gov/ncepihom
The National Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI) is the general clearinghouse for most of EPA's publications. At this site, users can search the most recent version of the EPA National Publications Catalog by title and EPA number.
New Chemicals Program Chemical Categories Report www.epa.gov/opptinr/chemcat
This document is available to assist new chemical manufacturers in developing protocols and testing schemes for testing certain chemical groups prior to PMN review. It also includes summaries of the New Chemicals Program's chemical categories of concern that have been developed to facilitate the review process.
OPPT Annual Report www.epa.gov/opptintr/ar95
This document summarizes the activities and programs of OPPT for fiscal year 1995. The 1996 Annual report is available from the T.A.I.S.
OECA Self Policing Policy es.inel.gov/oeca/ore/tped/gendocs.html
Through OECA's server, users can download information on the benefits of self reporting to minimize fines and negotiate consent decrees. EPA's policy offers a substantial and predictable reduction in penalties as an incentive for voluntary actions that improve compliance. Reducing penalties in exchange for voluntary disclosure and a minimized occurrance of litigation are benefits of this policy.
Chemical Toxicity Information
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/atsdrhome.html
ATSDR, part of the Centers for Disease Control, was established to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment. ATSDR is under congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment. These functions include public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific toxic substances, response to emergency releases, and information development and dissemination. Good sources of chemical toxicity information are the ToxFAQs and the Public Health Statements, which are easy-to-read summaries about hazardous substances that have been excerpted from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles.
CamSoft Chemfinder chemfinder.camsoft.com
This site is a valuable tool to track down information available on the internet for chemical identity, properties, and toxicity information. Users can search by CAS number or name, and the service provides a list of links for more information on that particular chemical.
Chemicals in Consumer Products www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/iaq.html
The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates the use of hazardous substances in products sold to consumers. Information is available at this web site on indoor air emissions and health effects of chemicals that can be found in some products, such as formaldehyde, asbestos, and lead.
Federal-State Toxicology Risk Analysis Committee &nbs www.epa.gov/OST/fstrac
FSTRAC fosters cooperation, consistency, an understanding of EPA's and States' goals and problems in human health risk assessment. It allow the states and the federal government to work together on issues related to the development and implementation of regulations and criteria under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Integrated Risk Information System www.epa.gov/ORD/dbases/iris
IRIS is the primary vehicle for communication of chronic non-cancer and cancer health hazard information for over 500 substances. The summary information represents EPA consensus positions developed though comprehensive review by Agency scientific experts. Since 1994, new or revised risk information summaries put on IRIS have undergone external peer review. The database is updated monthly by ORD.
National Library of Medicine www.nlm.nih.gov
NLM tracks chemical toxicity information through biomedical articles and journals and allows free access through the Internet to both PubMed and the Internet Grateful Med. Members of NLM can access such databases of information such as the chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System (CCRIS) and the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS).
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets www.rtk.net/T29
These fact sheets covering over 140 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals were prepared by the New Jersey Department of Health. They contain information on exposure pathways and effects, permitted exposure limits, and safety precautions for the workplace and home. The data are current as of July 1988.
OPPT Chemical Fact Sheets www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemfact
In 1994, EPA developed information summaries on selected chemicals to describe how the public might be exposed to chemicals, and how that exposure affects human health and the environment, what happens to them in the environment, who regulates them, and whom to contact for more information. EPA is committed to reducing environmental releases of chemicals through source reduction and other practices that reduce the creation of pollutants.
The Right to Know Network www.rtk.net
RTK Net was started in 1989 in support of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), which requires that information be made available via the TRI. Focusing on the environment, housing, an sustainable development, this site provides to the public free access to government information and databases. TSCA information is available through chemical fact sheets, IRIS, and other databases such as TSCA Test Submissions (TSCATS). TSCATS contains unpublished toxicologic and ecologic data submitted by industry under Section 4 test rules, 8(d) health and safety studies, and 8(e) substantial risk notices. RTK Net is operated by OMB watch and the Unison Institute.
International Chemical Information
Environment Canada www.ec.gc.ca/cceb
At this site, users can get more information about the chemical regulatory program of Canada, the Domestic Substance List (DSL) and the Non-Domestic Substance List (NDSL). The mission of the office is to apply knowledge and science to anticipate, prevent and resolve problems associated with environmental pollutants resulting from new and existing commercial chemicals, and biotechnology products.
European Environment Agency www.eea.dk
The EEA was launched by the European Union (EU) in 1993 with a mandate to orchestrate, cross-check and put strategic use information of relevance to the protection and improvement of Europe's environment.
CAS Worldwide Representatives www.cas.org/supp.html
This site provides users with the names and contact information for the international CAS contacts.
Gesellshaft Detscher Chemiker www.gdch.de
The German Chemical Society has an informational site for the Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals of Environmental Relevance (Beratergremium f�r Umweltrelevante Altstoffe (BUA)).
Global Legal Information Network lcweb2.loc.gov/glin
GLIN provides a database of national laws from contributing countries around the world accessed from a World Wide Web server of the U.S. Library of Congress. The database consists of searchable legal abstracts in English and some full text laws in the language of the contributing country. It currently provides information on national legislation from more than 35 countries, with other countries being added on a continuing basis.
United Nations Environment Programme www.unep.org
UNEP's mandate is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. At this site, users can also access a list of Infoterra National Focal Points for member countries.
International Programme on Chemical Safety www.who.ch/programmes/pcs/pcs_home.htm
IPCS is under joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organisation, and the World Health Organization. The program provides information regarding chemical risks and implements activities for chemical safety.
UNEP Chemical Information irptc.unep.ch
Information is available at this site on the United Nations Environmental Programme's International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals. The program is associated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Environmental Epidemiology Network (GEENET).
Other Sites of Interest
American Society for Testing and Materials www.astm.org
ASTM has developed and published 10,000 technical standards which are used by industry worldwide. Products available include technical publications, training courses, and Statistical Quality Assurance Programs. At the ASTM site, users can print testing methods for both PCBs and Asbestos.
Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov
The CPSC has a role in chemical safety under the authority of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). Regulations for consumer product safety provide for labeling or banning hazardous household chemicals and products, regulations of various consumer products, including extremely flammable contact adhesives, lead- containing paint, and requirements for special packaging of hazardous products.
Design for the Environment www.epa.gov/opptintr/dfe
DfE is part of the Office of Pollution Prevention. The goal of the program is to help industry make more informed environmental decisions about the use of alternative chemicals, processes, and technologies that reduce pollution. The program has projects in Aerospace and Aviation, Dry Cleaning, Printing, and Printed Wiring Board manufacture.
Department of Transportation www.dot.gov
DOT is responsible for the US program for ensuring the safe and environmentally sound transportation of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation through a comprehensive, risk-based national program. DOT derives its authority from the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) and associated regulations.
The Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/fdahomepage.html
The FDA is an agency within the Public Health Service, which is part of the Health and Human Services. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the FDA regulates chemicals manufactured for use as food, food additives, cosmetics, drugs, and drug intermediates.
National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences www.niehs.nih.gov
NIEHS is a component of the National Institutes of Health, which is a component of the Public Health Service (PHS) in the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. The mission of NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and dysfunction from environmental causes by understanding the interaction of environmental factors, individual susceptibility, and age. NIEHS has a substantial amount of information on chemical safety available that is searchable online for members.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
NIOSH was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and is part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The agency is responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work- related illnesses and injuries.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration www.osha.gov
The mission of OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America's workers. OSHA cover worker protection guidelines for chemicals, including their use, storage, and handling. The Administration mandates permissible exposure limits (PELS) for chemicals, the implementation of hazard communication program, and the availability of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).
Pollution Prevention Home Page www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home
Under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, EPA established the Office of Pollution Prevention to encourage source reduction, and to promote practices that conserve natural resources by reducing or eliminating pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, and land.
Toxic Release Inventory Home Page www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri
Under EPCRA, EPA makes available to the public information on emission of hazardous chemicals. The TRI is a database which provides annual information to the public about releases of toxic chemicals from manufacturing facilities to the environment. Users an search this site by region and determine which facilities are releasing chemicals in their area.
Small Business Assistance Program www.epa.gov/ttn/sbap
The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) operates a program to help small business comply with environmental regulations. The Small Business Ombudsman is a good contact for Asbestos issues under NESHAPs, the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
