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Statement of Need: There are more than 75,000 chemicals in commerce listed on the TSCA Inventory. EPA faces the challenge of sorting through these chemicals to identify the ones of most concern, then taking the appropriate steps to mitigate unreasonable risks of those chemicals. The current IUR collects some key data, such as production volume, used to identify the chemicals of most concern. However, other exposure-related information might more accurately identify the chemicals with the greater risk potential. Information on how a chemical is manufactured, processed, and used should help to determine possible exposure routes and scenarios of these chemicals. This action will propose to modify the inventory update process to collect the exposure-related data necessary for an effective TSCA Inventory Screening program; the information will be collected in a format that makes the information easy to use to screen thousands of chemicals. A national report will make data collected via the amended IUR publicly available. This report will not contain any information claimed to be confidential.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8.

Alternatives: Although data on the use of specific chemicals can be found in varying sources, there is no national, comprehensive, current searchable database providing consistent information on a wide variety of chemicals. EPA has examined alternate sources of the information including state information, Federal databases and privately collected information. EPA can find no information comparable to the data anticipated to be collected through amendments to the IUR.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: EPA anticipates costs of this action to be well under $100 million for the first year of reporting. 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 in commerce and identifying those of highest concern; establishing priorities and goals for chemical assessment, risk management and prevention programs and to 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 describing how chemicals in commerce are used; this data is essential to determine possible exposure routes and scenarios. Using these exposure estimates, EPA's toxics program will be able to better focus on chemical risks of most concern.