US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
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Observations on Improving the Toxic Substances Control Act
December 2009
Testimony, based on prior GAO work, addresses EPA's implementation of TSCA and IRIS and options for 1) obtaining more information on chemical risks, 2) controlling these risks, and 3) sharing more of the information collected under TSCA.
EPA Needs to
Coordinate Its
Research Strategy and
Clarify Its Authority to
Obtain Biomonitoring
Data
April 2009
GAO was asked to review the (1) extent to which EPA incorporates information from biomonitoring studies into its
assessments of chemicals, (2) steps
that EPA has taken to improve the
usefulness of biomonitoring data,
and (3) extent to which EPA has
the authority under TSCA to
require chemical companies to
develop and submit biomonitoring
data to EPA.
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Options for Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Toxic Substances Control Act (GAO-09-48T)
February 2009
This testimony, which is based on
prior GAO work, addresses EPA’s
implementation of TSCA and
options for (1) obtaining
information on the risks posed by
chemicals to human health and the
environment, (2) controlling these
risks, and (3) publicly disclosing
information provided by chemical
companies under TSCA.
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High Risk Series: An Update
January 2009
In this 2009 update for the 111th Congress, GAO presents the status of high-risk areas listed in 2007 and identifies new high-risk areas warranting attention by Congress and the executive branch.
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Comparison of U.S. and Recently Enacted European Union Approaches to Protect against the Risks of Toxic Chemicals (GAO-07-825)
August 2007
Compares TSCA and REACH in their approaches to identifying chemicals harmful to public health and the environment, controlling chemical risks, and disclosing chemical data to the public while protecting confidential business information.
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Chemical Regulation: Actions Are Needed to Improve the Effectiveness of EPA's Chemical Review Program (GAO-06-103T)
August 2006
This testimony is based on GAO’s June 2005 report, Chemical Regulation: Options Exist to Improve EPA’s Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage Its Chemical Review Program (GAO-05-458). GAO’s report describes EPA’s efforts to (1) assess chemicals used in commerce, (2) control the use of chemicals not yet in commerce, and (3) publicly disclose information provided by chemical companies under TSCA. GAO recommended that the Congress consider providing EPA additional authorities under TSCA to improve EPA’s ability to assess chemical risks, and that the EPA Administrator take several actions to improve EPA’s management of its chemical review program. EPA did not disagree with our findings and is currently implementing some of our recommendations.
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Focusing on Foresight, A Speech Before the World Future Society Conference (GAO-06-1041CG)
July 2006
Presentation by The Honorable David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States before the World Future Society Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Chemical Regulation: Options Exist to Improve EPA's Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage its Chemical Review Program (GAO-05-458)
June 2005
GAO reviewed EPA’s efforts to (1) control the risks of new chemicals not yet in commerce, (2) assess the risks of existing chemicals used in commerce, and (3) publicly disclose information provided by chemical companies under TSCA.
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Chemical Regulation: Approaches in the United States, Canada, and the European Union (GAO-06-217R)
November 2005
Letter from John B. Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment to Senators James Jeffords, Frank Lautenberg, and Patrick Leahy.
Toxic Substances Control Act: Legislative Changes Could Make the Act More Effective (GAO-94-103)
September 1994
Report discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts under
the Toxic Substances Control Act to assess the risks of chemicals, control those found to be
harmful, and make information on chemical risks publicly available. The report also contains
options for revising the act to improve EPA'S efforts in each of these areas.
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