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Region 10: The Pacific Northwest |  |
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Serving the people of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 270 Native Tribes
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The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), signed into law in 1976, provides EPA with broad authority to regulate chemicals and chemical substances whose manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use or disposal may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment. TSCA covers all chemicals planned for production, manufactured, imported, or exported from the United States except pesticides, tobacco (or tobacco products), source material by-products or special nuclear material defined by the Atomic Energy Act and food, food additives, drugs and cosmetics covered under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. EPA is required to maintain an inventory (known as the "TSCA Inventory") of each chemical substance which may be legally manufactured, processed, or imported in the United States. The TSCA Inventory, which currently contains over 75,000 chemicals, provides EPA an important tool for identifying, prioritizing, and evaluating toxic chemicals and for developing a profile of the chemical industry in the United States. TSCA Section 4 authorizes EPA to require manufacturers, importers, and/or chemical processors to conduct specific toxicological tests on chemicals which EPA has identified as posing possible risks for adverse health and environmental effects during the manufacture, use or disposal of these chemicals. TSCA Section 5 screens new chemicals for potential health and environmental risks before they are manufactured domestically for commercial purposes or imported into the United States. New chemical substances are defined as those chemicals which are not listed in the TSCA Inventory. Those wishing to manufacture or import a new chemical substance must submit information to EPA on the chemical identity, use, production volume, description of byproducts, description of human exposure, disposal practices, pollution prevention and recycling, health and environmental review data. If EPA finds that the substance may present an unreasonable risk, EPA may limit activities, control exposure or releases or ban the substance before it enters commerce. TSCA Section 6 controls chemicals proven to present an unreasonable risk or injury to human health or the environment and whose risks outweigh their benefit to society and the economy. Examples include PCBs, asbestos, lead, CFCs, and dioxin. TSCA Section 8 authorizes EPA to require manufacturers, chemical processors, importers, and, in some cases, distributers, to undertake recordkeeping and reporting of information on chemical production and processing, allegations of significant adverse reactions to health or the environment caused by a chemical substance or mixture, health and safety studies, and information concerning substantial risk to EPA. TSCA Section 12 generally exempts any chemical substance, mixture or article manufactured, processed, or distributed solely for export from the United States from complying with the TSCA provisions. However, an exporter is required to notify EPA when he or she is exporting a substance that is subject to EPA regulatory actions under TSCA and EPA must notify the government of the notifying country that there is data available or that a rule, order, action or relief exists. TSCA Section 13 requires an importer of a chemical substance to certify that the substance and its importation is not subject to TSCA or the substance appears in the TSCA Inventory and complies with all the other applicable rules and orders issued under TSCA. Go to top of page What's New Go to top of page Regulations and Guidance 
Go to top of page Risk and Health Effects Go to top of page Enforcement Go to top of page Forms and Databases Go to top of page Initiatives and Related Programs Go to top of page Hotlines and Contacts E-mail: tsca-hotline@epa.gov Hours of Service: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST) M - F Telephone: 202-554-1404 TDD: 202-554-0551 Fax: 202-554-5603 (Fax available 24 hours a day) Go to top of page Unit: Compliance Unit Kevin Schanilec E-Mail: schanilec.kevin@epa.gov (206) 553-1061 Phone Number: (206) 553-1061 Last Updated (mm/dd/yy): 07/12/2004 Webpage http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/hide/tscahomepage |