Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

A national effort to protect families from toxic chemicals.

TSCA Implementation

In 2016, after a years-long legislative process in which Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and our coalition partners took a leadership role, Congress passed a bipartisan update to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) called the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (LCSA).

The final law gave EPA important new powers to require chemical testing and to take action to restrict priority chemicals. The pace will be slow, however, and the bill has other limitations. It is important for the public to remain engaged as EPA implements the new reforms.

Since LCSA was signed into law, we have been working to protect American families’ health by advocating for EPA to implement the new law with the strength that Congress intended.

Comments and letters submitted to EPA:

March 18, 2020 Comments to Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene
March 6, 2020 Letter to EPA on imminent and serious health risks from acute consumer and worker exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE)
February 19, 2020 Comments to Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Carbon Tetrachloride
February 18, 2020 Comments to EPA on the agency’s working approach for making new chemical determinations under TSCA Section 5
January 21, 2020 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)
December 30, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Methylene Chloride
November 26, 2019 Comments to Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Methylene Chloride
November 21, 2019 Comments on proposed high-priority substance designation
November 13, 2019 Comments on proposed low-priority substance designation
November 8, 2019 Letter to EPA on imminent and serious health risks from acute consumer and worker exposure to methylene chloride
October 28, 2019 Comments on EPA’s proposed rule regulating persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals under TSCA
October 11, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for 1-Bromopropane
October 9, 2019 Letter to EPA on imminent and serious health risks from acute consumer and worker exposure to 1-bromopropane; A background paper on the risks was also sent to EPA.
October 7, 2019 Comments on new chemical submissions for four PFAS chemicals
August 30, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD)
August 30, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane
June 24, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Proposed Revisions and Small Manufacturer Definition Update for Chemical Data Reporting Under TSCA Section 8(a)
June 19, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Initiation of Prioritization for 20 High-Priority and 20 Low-Priority Candidates under Section 6(b)(1) of TSCA
May 28, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Methylene Chloride Commercial Paint and Coating Removal Training, Certification and Limited Access Program
May 17, 2019 Supplemental comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for C.I. Pigment Violet 29
January 14, 2019 Comments on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for C.I. Pigment Violet 29 and Supplemental Information to Comments
November 15, 2018 Comments on EPA’s Working Approach for identifying potential candidate chemicals for prioritization
November 15, 2018 Comments on proposed SNURs on certain chemical substances under Section 5 of TSCA
October 30, 2018 Letter to EPA on public comment and peer review process for the initial 10 risk evaluations under TSCA
August 17, 2018 Comments on EPA Exposure and Use Assessment and Environmental and Human Health Hazards of 5 PBTs
August 16, 2018 Comments on problem formulations for the risk evaluations of 10 chemical substances under TSCA; appendices focusing on individual chemicals were also submitted for 1-BP, asbestos, carbon tetrachloride, HBCD, and NMP; The Healthy Building Network’s report on Chlorine and Building Materials was also submitted as an attachment in the asbestos and carbon tetrachloride dockets
August 16, 2018 Comments on proposed rule strengthening “transparency” in regulatory science
August 16, 2018 Comments on application of systematic review in risk evaluations under TSCA Section 6
August 10, 2018 Comments on proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) for Asbestos
May 24, 2018 Comments on proposed user fees for administration of amended TSCA
May 23, 2018 Letter on finalizing the phase-out rule for methylene chloride paint removal products
April 16, 2018 Comments on draft guidance on expanded access to Confidential Business Information
January 25, 2018 Comments on the public meeting regarding approaches for identifying potential candidates for prioritization
January 19, 2018 Comments on progress implementing the new chemicals review program
January 12, 2018 Decabromodiphenyl ethers (decaBDE), Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP), Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), Phenol, isopropylated, phosophate (3:1) (in these sections: main comments, technical report, EJSCREEN reports 1, 2, 3, and 4), and 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl) phenol (2,4,6-TTBP)
December 11, 2017 Letter discussing serious concerns with pre-manufacture notice (PMN)/new chemicals program
October 16, 2017 Letter relaying concerns about pre-manufacture notice (PMN)/new chemicals program
September 19, 2017 Comments on scoping documents
July 25, 2017 Letter critiquing scoping documents and problem formulation
May 24, 2017 Comments on standards for small manufacturers and processors
May 19, 2017 Comments on proposed rule restricting Trichloroethylene (TCE) in vapor degreasing
May 19, 2017 Comments on proposed rule restricting Methylene Chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in paint and coating removal
April 4, 2017 Letter opposing extension request for NMP/Methylene Chloride comment period
April 4, 2017 Letter opposing additional extension request for TCE vapor degreasing comment period
March 20, 2017 Comments on proposed prioritization procedures rule
March 20, 2017 Comments on proposed risk evaluation procedures rule
March 16, 2017 Comments on proposed rule restricting Trichloroethylene (TCE) in aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning
March 15, 2017 General comments on risk evaluation scoping process
March 15, 2017 Comments on scope of risk evaluation for: Asbestos, Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC), Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), Methylene Chloride, N-Methylpyrrolidone, and 1-Bromopropane (1-BP/nPB)
March 14, 2017 Comments on proposed inventory notification rule
February 6, 2017 Letter opposing extension request for both TCE rules’ comment periods
January 17, 2017 Comments on Pre-Manufacture Notice/New Chemicals Program
October 4, 2016 Letter regarding Confidential Business Information (CBI) substantiation requirements
August 9, 2016 Letter conveying recommendations for the first 10 chemicals to be evaluated under TSCA

More information about the legislative process: