Following through with a commitment to eliminating the backlog of new chemical cases stuck in EPA's review processes upon his confirmation, Scott Pruitt, EPA administrator, is reporting that backlog is eliminated.
"EPA has a tremendous responsibility to review new chemicals intended to enter the U.S. market for safety," Pruitt said. "EPA can either be a roadblock to new products, or it can be supporter of innovation and ever-improving chemical safety."
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), amended by the 2016 Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, ensures that EPA must make an affirmative safety determination before a new chemical can come to market. EPA can request more information from chemical companies if it needs more information to make a safety determination.
When Administrator Pruitt was confirmed, over 600 new chemicals were "stuck" in the EPA review process. The current caseload is back at the baseline and now in line with the typical active workload. Pruitt committed to being a partner in the regulatory process and ensuring safety for health and the environment, while also seeking ways to allow new chemicals to enter the market quickly once EPA is assured the chemical is not likely to present unreasonable risk for the intended and reasonably foreseen uses.
In addition to announcing the elimination of the backlog, Pruitt is committing the agency to a more predictable and transparent process for making safety determinations through a commitment to following operating principles, continuously improving and increasing the transparency in the decision making for new chemical safety determinations.
"Not only do I support reducing the backlogs that have built up at this agency; I also encourage continuous improvement and increased transparency," Pruitt said.
For more information, visit www. epa.gov or call (202) 564-4700.
