Assessing Chemicals of Potential Concern Under TSCA

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency runs an Existing Chemicals Program to examine chemicals of potential concern. In 2012, EPA developed the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments to help direct and prioritize chemical assessment activities. This high-profile Work Plan, which has grown to include nearly 100 chemicals, is now one of the most prominent initiatives in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

ERG has supported all Work Plan chemical assessments since the program’s inception. Our chemical engineers, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, and economists provide analyses for all phases of a chemical’s life cycle. This work includes evaluating chemical releases, environmental fate and transport, and associated potential exposures to workers, the public, and environmental receptors.

EPA uses ERG’s release and exposure assessments for internal deliberations and to support its published risk assessments. ERG’s work helps EPA determine the most appropriate course of action for each Work Plan chemical, ranging from no further action needed to safeguard human health and the environment to voluntary and/or regulatory actions to reduce risk.