Bill would reform TSCA, grant EPA broader power
Washington – All commercial chemicals would be subject to screening for safety under new legislation proposed by a bipartisan group of senators.
Introduced May 22, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009) would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act by providing the Environmental Protection Agency with authority to test all active chemicals in commerce. Any chemical found to be unsafe would require specific labeling or a phase-out, or it would be banned. Currently, EPA is allowed to test chemicals for safety only after evidence emerges indicating the chemical may be dangerous.
“Our bipartisan bill would fix the flaws with current law and ensure that chemicals are screened for safety,” Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said in a press release. Lautenberg and Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) are the legislation’s main sponsors.
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