EPA Publishes Rule to Improve Reporting of Chemical Information (HQ)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is increasing
the type and amount of information it collects on commercial
chemicals from chemical manufacturers, allowing the Agency to
better identify and manage potential risks to Americans’
health and the environment. The improved rule, known as the
chemical data reporting Rule (CDR), also requires that companies
submit the information electronically to EPA, rather than on paper,
and limits confidentiality claims by companies. The changes are
part of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s commitment to
strengthen the agency’s chemical management program and
increase the transparency of critical information on
chemicals.
“Collecting this critical information on
widely used chemicals will enable EPA to more effectively identify
and address potential chemical risks,” said Steve Owens,
assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety
and Pollution Prevention. “The new electronic reporting
requirement and limits on confidentiality claims also will bring
EPA’s data collection effort into the 21st Century and give
the American people greater access to a wider range of information
on chemicals to which their children and families are exposed every
day.”
The CDR Rule, which falls under the Toxic
Substances Control Act Inventory Update Rule (IUR), requires more
frequent reporting of critical information on chemicals and
requires the submission of new and updated information relating to
potential chemical exposures, current production volume,
manufacturing site-related data, and processing and use-related
data for a larger number of chemicals. The improved information
will allow EPA to better identify and manage risks associated with
chemicals.
EPA is requiring companies to submit the
information through the Internet, using EPA’s electronic
reporting tool. On-line reporting will improve both data quality
and EPA’s ability to use the data, as well as make it more
accessible to the public.
Companies will be required to start following
the new reporting requirements in the next data submission period,
which will occur February 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012.
More information about the CDR Rule and
reporting program is available at www.epa.gov/iur.
