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

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.

Since 1982, EPA has begun to make progress in implementing the existing chemicals program by establishing a process for identifying, assessing, and controlling existing chemical hazards. However, the chemicals program has had low priority in relation to other activities and, since fiscal year 1981, there has been a downward trend in funding for the program. EPA has begun to make progress in implementing the existing chemicals program by establishing a process for identifying, assessing, and controlling existing chemical hazards; developing a plan for implementing the program; and establishing an existing chemicals task force to develop, monitor, and manage the program. Since the act's passage, EPA has: (1) regulated 4 chemicals; (2) identified 60 chemicals that may present an unreasonable risk and need to be evaluated; and (3) determined that 41 additional chemicals require testing. Initially, EPA did not meet the act's mandate to initiate chemical test rulemaking proceedings within 1 year because of a lack of resources, and it had not proposed test rules. Finally, EPA has designated and assessed only two chemicals for 180-day priority review because those chemicals significantly increase the risk of harm from cancer, birth defects, or gene mutations.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Hugh J. Wessinger Team: General Accounting Office: Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 275-5489