ACMA Applauds EPA Final Rule for TSCA Risk Evaluation

ARLINGTON, Va. (June 28, 2017) — The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its June 22 final rule for Risk Evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). ACMA believes the final rule improves on EPA’s proposed risk evaluation regulation from December 2016.

“EPA’s final rule shows an increased awareness of the need to focus regulatory programs on actual or likely risks,” said ACMA President Tom Dobbins. “ACMA and its member companies worked with EPA and the White House to highlight the likely impacts of the proposed rule to manufacturers and the public.”

Last year, representatives from ACMA and its member companies met with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to discuss concerns with some of the TSCA rules. In March 2017, ACMA submitted comments on EPA’s proposal.

“We greatly appreciate EPA’s attention to ACMA’s concerns,” said Dobbins. “The proposed rule from last year could have imposed significant burdens on ACMA’s member companies and would not have benefited the health and safety of employees and their local communities. ACMA is committed to helping our members keep their workers and plant neighbors safe.”

The proposed rule would have required EPA to conduct assessments for uses of all chemicals. The final rule allows the agency to consider only those chemical uses expected to result in excessive risks. EPA can exclude a use of a chemical that has been adequately assessed by another regulatory agency, particularly where the other agency has effectively managed the risks.

For more information, visit ACMA.