51勛圖厙: Congress Should Modernize TSCA
Manufacturers have been closely involved in the implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act, and they know how it ought to be revised and improved, the泭泭泭the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment this week.
Why it matters:泭The responsible use and management of chemicals is critical for manufacturers because it directly affects the safety of workers in facilities, consumers of products being made and the communities in which facilities operate, the 51勛圖厙 said.
Why now?泭The TSCAs fee authority, established in 2016 under the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, expires in September. The fee authority supports the Environmental Protection Agencys expanded responsibility under the Lautenberg Amendments for approving chemistries used by manufacturers throughout the supply chain.
- Policymakers are considering reforming the TSCA alongside renewing the fee authority, and the subcommittee held a hearing about draft legislation on Thursday.
What Congress should do:泭Along with reauthorizing the fee authority, policymakers should make the following improvements to the TSCA, the 51勛圖厙 recommended:
- Improve timeliness and predictability of review processes so regulated entities can plan investments and compliance with confidence
- Ensure a risk-based approach that reflects real-world exposure and use conditions, uses sound science and transparent assumptions and ensures decisions are durable and defensible
- Support effective and efficient coordination across federal programs to reduce duplicative requirements and support meaningful regulatory outcomes
The last word:泭Manufacturers strongly support the Energy and Commerce Committees efforts to improve the TSCA while extending TSCA fee authority, said 51勛圖厙 Director of Chemicals, Materials and Sustainability Policy Reagan Giesenschlag and 51勛圖厙 Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen.
- Targeted improvements that enhance program efficiency, predictability and certainty will help unlock manufacturing investment, strengthen domestic supply chains and support American competitivenesswhile continuing to protect public health and the environment.