Public input and peer reviews are being sought by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the agency's proposed screening methodology to evaluate potential chemical exposure risks to communities near industrial facilities, the agency announced recently.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluations mandate that the EPA "evaluate all of a chemical’s conditions of use when conducting a risk evaluation," the agency stated in the Jan. 21 announcement. EPA officials state the previous administration did not assess the risks to the general population of chemical exposures via air, water or disposal.
The exclusion of assessments didn't evaluate what damage that exposure and potential exposures could cause in vulnerable communities such as those located near industrial facilities, or "fenceline communities," that may be disproportionately exposed, according to the announcement. The administration of President Joe Biden reversed the previous administration's policy regarding assessments, the EPA reports.
"If TSCA risk management rules are finalized for these substances without first evaluating these potential exposures." the EPA states in the announcement, "the rules could leave these communities less protected."
These potential exposures need to be evaluated before TSCA risk management rules are finalized to ensure that fenceline communities are protected. The EPA has developed a screening methodology to be used to investigate if the exclusions from the previous evaluations could cause a failure to adequately protect vulnerable communities,
The new methodology will then be subjected to public comment and peer review, including by the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC), the EPA states. Feedback will be used to modify the screening methodology as appropriate, the agency reports.
An SACC virtual public meeting of the SACC will be presented by the EPA March 15-17 for a peer review of the methodology.
This review will ensure that the approach incorporates independent scientific advice and recommendations, and that EPA follows a transparent process," the EPA stated in the announcement.
Written comments on the documents undergoing peer review should be submitted on or before February 22, 2022. Comments may be submitted to the public docket through
"To protect human health and the environment, we must evaluate and understand all chemical exposures to communities, particularly historically underserved communities who have been disproportionately exposed to pollution for generations," Michal Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in the announcement.
Public comments must be received on or before Feb. 22.
