EPA Strengthens New Chemical Risk Reviews, Targets Worker Protections

摘要

EPA's acting chemicals chief is detailing a series of steps to toughen reviews of new chemicals, including increasing the use of enforcement orders after approving pre-manufacture notices (PMNs), expanding the scope of reviews and dropping what critics said were overly optimistic assumptions on workers' use of protective gear.During her March 29 keynote address to the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) annual GlobalChem convention, Acting Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff reiterated her previous pledge to apply a more-stringent reading of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and offered new detail on how she plans to achieve that goal - especially in the new chemicals program."Under the Biden EPA, when our review leads us to conclude that one or more uses may present an unreasonable risk, or when we lack the information needed to make a safety finding, we will issue an order to address those potential risks," Freedhoff said.