View Rule

Statement of Need: There are approximately 70,000 chemicals in commerce and listed on the updated TSCA Inventory. EPA faces the challenge of sorting through these chemicals to identify the ones of most concern and then taking action to mitigate unreasonable risks. The current IUR collects some of the key data, such as production volumes, that help to identify chemicals of concern, but information on how chemicals are used commercially, which is essential to determining possible exposure routes and scenarios and potential safer substitute chemicals, is not covered by IUR. This action will propose to modify the inventory update process so that data essential to an effective TSCA Inventory screening program are available to EPA. ^PIn addition to the specifics of the kind and format of the desired end use data reporting, EPA will consider reforms of the IUR: How to include inorganic chemicals, which have been exempted from reporting in the past, so that risks from these chemicals can be better assessed and managed; How to ease the linkage of amended IUR data to other environmental data sources like the Toxic Release Inventory to enhance its usefulness; and How to change IUR reporting so that the frequency of submitter confidentiality claims is reduced so that the public can have better access to relevant data on toxics. ^PA national report will make data collected via the amended IUR publicly available. This report will not contain any information claimed to be confidential. information claimed to be confidential.

Alternatives: Several alternate approaches to securing the desired chemical use data have been evaluated. One of the alternatives considered was whether to add materials accounting and other data elements to the Toxic Release Inventory. EPA plans to evaluate this approach in a separate project.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Total costs of this action depend on the amendments to IUR that are contained in a proposed rule. The amended IUR will assist EPA in screening chemicals not in commerce and identify those of highest concern; establishing priorities and goals for its chemical assessment, risk management and prevention programs and monitor their progress; identifying potentially safer substitute chemicals for uses of potential concern; and enhancing the effectiveness of chemical risk communication efforts.

Risks: This action will secure data on chemicals in commerce which describes how they are used which is essential to determining possible exposure routes and scenarios. EPA's toxics program will be able to better focus on chemical risks of most concern.