Skip to main content

EPA's Efforts To Identify and Control Harmful Chemicals in Use

RCED-84-100 Published: Jun 13, 1984. Publicly Released: Jul 10, 1984.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) current progress in reviewing and controlling existing chemicals as mandated under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress may want to consider alternatives for increasing the number of chemicals considered for priority review, if Congress believes that EPA should use this provision more frequently. Congress could: (1) require EPA to designate chemicals which are known to cause cancer, gene mutations, or birth defects; (2) establish an advisory group of representatives from federal research and regulatory agencies to recommend chemicals for EPA to consider for priority review; (3) provide EPA the authority to gather additional information to properly assess a chemical's risk during review; or (4) require EPA to include in its annual reports the chemicals it considered for priority review, its decisions, and the related reasons for the decisions.
Closed – Not Implemented
Bills to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act were introduced by both requesting subcommittee chairmen, but these bills were not acted on by the full committees during the last session of Congress. Amendments to the act are not actively being considered because legislative committees are giving priority to other environmental legislation.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should finalize proposed test rulemaking within a reasonable time, such as a goal of 12 to 18 months after proposal. If EPA is not able to finalize test rules in a reasonable time, it should inform Congress of the delay, the reasons, and suggest solutions such as negotiated testing agreements, additional resources, or legislative changes.
Closed – Implemented
In June 1986, EPA published interim final procedures for the chemical testing process. EPA proposes to issue consent orders as an alternative to rulemaking, in appropriate circumstances. EPA believes that this procedure could save 12 to 18 months compared with the rulemaking process.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Agency missionsChemical researchEnvironmental legislationIntergovernmental fiscal relationsInternal controlsNatural resourcesPollution controlPrioritizingTestingToxic substancesChemicals