&EPA
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Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution ;i
Prevention and Toxics
Washington, DC 20460
EPA:745-R-S7-001
May 1997
OPPT Annual Report
Fiscal Year1996
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fiscal year 1996
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
May 1997
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CONTENTS
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Foreword
Introduction
Promoting Pollution Prevention 6
f 6 D 0 r t Promoting Safer Chemicals 20
Promoting Reduction of Risks 34
Promoting Public Understanding of Risks 45
Future Activities 64
Index of Projects 66
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Foreword
xvEPA
/ / TTt was the best of times, it
I was the worst of times."
JL Charles Dickens used
this wonderful opening line in A
Tale of Two Cities,, but it could
work as well for the Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics"
FY96 Annual Report. This past
year saw two government-wide
shutdowns and the longest, most
serious budget crisis EPA has
faced in its history. These two
events dramatically affected our
jobs and the work that we do.
But despite these significant
obstacles, FY96 also saw:
• The successful completion of
the 33/50 Program, the
Agency's first voluntary initia-
tive.
• The expansion of the public's
right-to-know about toxic
chemicals — both by provid-
ing homeowners the opportu-
nity to learn of known lead
hazards before they buy a
home and by proposing to
broaden the breadth of report-
ing to the Toxics Release
Inventory.
• Presentation of the first annual
Green Chemistry Challenge
Awards.
As these examples indicate,
OPPT engages in much more
than traditional regulatory activi-
ties.
Not one of these or our many
other FY96 achievements would
have been possible without the
hard work and commitment I
saw from the first-rate profes-
sionals in this Office, and our
many partners and constituents
who worked with us to carry out
our mission. The personal dedi-
cation this year on the part of so
many to meet tight deadlines
and get the job done was truly
commendable. As diverse a
group as you will find anywhere
in EPA, both with respect to cul-
ture and educational back-
ground — economists, engi-
neers, scientists, policy analysts,
administrative support staff, and
others are all necessary to carry
out OPPT's programs — we rec-
ognize the need to communicate
openly and work together effi-
ciently and effectively to reach
our common goals. This philos-
ophy extends to our partners
outside the Office, evident in the
innovative ways OPPT has
found to use participatory and
voluntary means, in addition to
traditional regulatory approach-
es, to achieve environmental
objectives. We did that this year,
under the worst of circum-
stances, and I am proud to share
with you our best efforts in the
following pages.
This year's report, like our
first one last year, highlights not
only what we do but how we
make a difference. The
Introduction outlines our mis-
sion and guiding principles and
, how they help shape and direct
our activities. Our achievements
are described in the next four
chapters, with background infor-
mation and contact points for
readers interested in obtaining
more details.
As we move toward the next
century, our commitment to you
to advance pollution prevention,
promote the design and safe use
of chemicals, and provide the
information and tools necessary
to make informed decisions is
firm. Our efforts to better serve
you and our many other stake-
holders and customers will con-
tinue. By continually rethinking
the way we do business, we are
reinventing ourselves to provide
improved service, to better mea-
sure and define success, and to
expand our contribution toward
a healthier environment.
William H. Sanders, III, Dr. PH., RE.
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
1996 Annual Report
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Introduction
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
FY96 Annual Report
The Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics
(OPPT) works to protect the
public from toxic chemicals —
those already in the environ-
ment and marketplace, and
those that manufacturers would
like to put into commerce. This
report provides descriptions of
approximately 100 of our Fiscal
Year 1996 activities. It also sup-
plies sources for additional
information and briefly pre-
views OPPT's planned future
activities. By furnishing this
information, OPPT hopes not
only to provide a reference tool
for our customers, but also to
demonstrate the many ways this
Office protects the public and
the environment.
For a number of years, OPPT
has been developing innovative
methods to protect public health
and the environment from the
harmful effects of toxic chemi-
cals. As with other environmen-
tal programs, OPPT initially
relied almost exclusively on
issuing regulations to protect the
public and the environment.
This method has eliminated
many of our worst pollution
problems, but often is not flexi-
ble enough to deal with
today's environmental chal-
lenges. Accordingly, OPPT has
turned to more flexible, volun-
tary, and cooperative programs.
These new approaches often
provide faster results at lower
costs than traditional regulatory
methods. The aim is to better
protect the public's health and
decrease environmental pollu-
tion, while saving the regulated
community time and money.
EPA's goal is to protect and
improve public health and the
environment, the keys to long-
term sustainability and a high
quality of life. OPPT directly
supports this overall Agency
goal by using both regulatory
Legislative Authorities
• Toxic Substances Control
Act (TSCA)
• Section 104 (I) of the
Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA)
• Section 313 and 322 of
the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-
Know Act (EPCRA)
• Pollution Prevention Act
(PPA)
• Residential Lead-Based
Paint Hazard Reduction
Act
• Asbestos School Hazard
Abatement Act (ASHAA)
• Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act
(AHERA)
1996 Annual Report
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approaches (issuing rules) and
nonregulatory approaches (vol-
untary agreements and partner-
ships, information, and other
tools), acting within the legisla-
tive authorities and boundaries
set by Congress.
OPPT's mission statement
focuses on the Office's unique
contributions. The mission of
OPPT is comprised of four com-
ponents (see box). Highlighted
below are some examples of the
environmental and public health
benefits associated with carrying
out each of the four parts of our
mission.
Promote Pollution
Prevention
The Pollution Prevention Act
of 1990 made pollution preven-
tion national policy. At EPA,
pollution prevention means
source reduction — preventing
or reducing waste where it origi-
nates, at the source — including
practices that conserve natural
resources by reducing or elimi-
nating pollutants through
increased efficiency in the use of
raw materials, energy, water,
and land. OPPT works to pro-
mote pollution prevention both
inside and outside the Agency.
This is done in several ways,
such as using voluntary pollu-
tion reduction programs, engag-
ing in partnerships, providing
technical assistance, funding
demonstration projects and
incorporating cost-effective pol-
lution prevention alternatives
into regulations and other initia-
tives.
Promote Safer Chemicals
A fundamental role of OPPT
is to encourage the use of safer
chemicals and processes in the
basic operations of the industrial
sector. Through a combination
of regulatory and partnership
efforts, OPPT can point to sue-
The Mission of OPPT
Promote pollution prevention as a principle of first choice to encourage society
to care for and think about the environment in a more protective manner,
preventing harm before it occurs.
Promote the design, development and application of less toxic chemicals,
processes and technologies in the industrial sector of the economy.
Promote the reduction of risks, particularly due to exposure, and encourage
responsible risk management practices throughout the life cycle of major
chemicals of concern.
Promote public understanding of the risks of chemicals and public involve-
ment in environmental decision-making through the development and dissem-
ination of information on toxic chemicals.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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cesses in pollution prevention,
reduction of risk, environmental
justice, and a greater under-
standing of the impact of chemi-
cals and processes on the envi-
ronment and public health.
All new chemicals or new
genetically engineered microor-
ganisms introduced into com-
merce must be evaluated by
OPPT before they can be manu-
factured in this country or
imported. This is the ultimate
embodiment of pollution preven-
tion, as it allows OPPT to prevent
the introduction of unacceptably
toxic chemicals into commerce
before they can harm public
health or the environment.
Indeed, this program is the only
opportunity the government has,
at any level, for reviewing an
industrial chemical prior to its
entry into commerce. Without
the new chemicals program,
many harmful chemicals might
make their way into commerce,
causing unnecessary harm and
potentially massive cleanup
costs. This pre-commercial evalu-
ation is also an avenue for the
swift introduction of safer alter-
natives into the marketplace. It
encourages the chemical industry
at the early stage of design and
pre-manufacture to produce and
use safer chemicals.
All industrial chemicals cur-
rently in commerce in the United
States, approximately 70,000, are
captured on a list known as the
Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) Inventory. OPPT has the
enormous task of evaluating the
list to identify chemicals that are
of most concern, and using a vari-
ety of methods to manage poten-
tial risks from these chemicals.
This effort helps reduce the pub-
lic's exposure to harmful chemi-
cals.
Promote Reduction of Risks
While preventing future pollu-
tion is central to the work of
OPPT, large amounts of toxic
chemicals are already present and
persist in the environment from
past activities. OPPT works to
minimize exposure to such highly
toxic substances as lead, asbestos,
dioxin, and polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs). These sub-
stances have been around for a
long time, and their health risks
are well documented and widely
known. EPA will continue to
manage them indefinitely.
Promote Public Understanding
of Risks
OPPT is committed, as is the
Agency as a whole, to providing
understandable, accessible, and
complete information on chemi-
cal risks to the broadest audi-
ence possible. OPPT believes
that an informed public is better
able to make responsible deci-
sions about protecting itself and
the environment. By providing
the public with the necessary
information, the greatest envi-
ronmental benefit will be
achieved at the least cost and
without resorting to expensive
regulations.
1996 Annual Report
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Guiding Principles
of OPPT
As OPPT carries out the four
parts of its mission, several prin-
ciples overlay many of its activi-
ties.- These include an increased
focus on: 1) developing volun-
tary partnerships; 2) working
cooperatively with customers
(interested/affected parties) to
further environmental protec-
tion; 3) protecting children and
other vulnerable populations
from environmental risks; and 4)
targeting solutions to specific
situations instead of trying to
come up with a "one-size-fits-
all" answer.
Voluntary Partnerships
While the command and con-
trol techniques of environmental
regulation have served this
country well in reducing some
of the most severe environmen-
tal threats, today's environmen-
tal challenges and societal
conditions invite the use of more
cooperative, sophisticated and
voluntary approaches as well.
OPPT and other EPA offices now
engage in many voluntary activ-
ities with a wide range of partic-
ipants — industry, state and
local governments, the business
community, and academia — to
prevent pollution and achieve
environmental improvement.
Working Cooperatively
In this spirit of increased
cooperation, OPPT has intensi-
fied efforts to communicate with
customers who have an interest
in the issue at hand. While the
focus previously was on chemi-
cal manufacturers, there is now
wide recognition that our cus-
tomers also include environ-
mental and labor groups, other
government organizations,
industries which use toxic chem-
icals, and the public at large. All
these parties are concerned
about the issues OPPT deals
with, and their input can
improve the decisions EPA
makes.
OPPT is continuing efforts
to promote environmentally
preferable choices in the design,
manufacture, and stewardship
of chemicals. The Office is
engaging environmental and
labor groups in dialogue about
various programs to ensure that
their needs are understood and
met. OPPT is also working with
other government agencies to
ensure that the federal govern-
ment coordinates its programs,
and that states, tribes, and local
communities have the informa-
tion they need to make informed
choices.
Protecting Children
In assessing risk, it has
become increasingly evident
that some populations are more
vulnerable to the effects of
toxic substances than others.
Children are known to be at
higher risk for several reasons.
Their neurological and repro-
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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ductive systems are potentially
more susceptible to toxic chemi-
cals; they are potentially
exposed to larger amounts of
toxic chemicals because of the
large amounts of food and drink
they take in compared to their
body weight; and their behavior,
such as playing outside and
mouthing objects, can lead to
greater exposure. OPPT has
taken many steps to reduce chil-
dren's environmental health
risks, and has expanded the
information available to the
public — an important tool for
parents.
Targeting Solutions
OPPT is expanding the tradi-
tional chemical-by-chemical
approach to focus on individual
facilities, a whole industry sec-
tor, or the environmental prob-
lems faced by an entire commu-
nity, as appropriate. Though a
chemical approach has value in
many situations, focusing on
facilities, industries, and com-
munities allows us to tailor envi-
ronmental solutions to a given
setting.
The following four chapters,
corresponding to the four mis-
sion areas, describe the activi-
ties and accomplishments of this
Office in Fiscal Year 1996.
Projects are presented in alpha-
betic order in the mission area to
which they primarily belong.
For projects with overlapping
missions, icons indicate the
other mission areas that they
address. For each project, a con-
tact/phone number is provided
for additional information.
1996 Annual Report
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Promoting Pollution Prevention
Promote pollution prevention as a principle of first choice to encourage society to care for and think
itlmit the environment in a more protective manner, preventing harm before it occurs.
Carpet Dialogue Forum and
The Technical Evaluation
Panel
Common Sense
Initiative
The Carpet Policy Dialogue
(with representatives of govern-
ment, industry, and other inter-
ested parties) came together vol-
untarily to reduce total volatile
organic compound (TVOC)
emissions associated with new
carpet installation.
In 1990, EPA received a citi-
zen's petition under Section 21 of
TSCA from Local 2050 of the
National Federation of Federal
Employees. The petition focused
attention on employee concerns
about a variety of health reports
claimed to be related to emissions
from newly installed carpets. The
Carpet Policy Dialogue was creat-
ed as a result. Participants devel-
oped a brochure to provide the
interested public with informa-
tion about carpet emissions and
indoor air quality. In addition, the
three carpet product industries
agreed to a voluntary testing pro-
gram of TVOCs in their products.
Several initiatives grew out of
this project. The Carpet and Rug
Institute has completed the
TVOC testing of carpets commit-
ted to in the Carpet dialogue and
has implemented its "green tag"
product stewardship effort on
carpet to encourage production
of lower emitting carpets. The
Carpet Cushion Council tested
TVOC emissions from new car-
pet cushion products. Currently
underway is a second phase of
testing by the Carpet Cushion
Council which includes an
expanded evaluation of the dif-
ferences in the emissions from
carpet cushions manufactured
from different materials
at different locations. The
Floor Covering Adhesive
Manufacturers Committee
examined multipurpose and
pressure sensitive adhesives and
considered both traditional and
low emitting adhesives.
As a result of these tests
received in FY96, EPA concluded
that TVOC emissions from sol-
vent-based multipurpose adhe-
sives were much higher than
emissions from any other type of
adhesive (multipurpose solvent-
free, pressure sensitive solvent-
based, and pressure sensitive
solvent-free). As part of its fol-
low-up, the Office is implement-
ing a voluntary program to
encourage development of lower
emitting carpet adhesives. For
more information, contact:
Charlie Auer, (202) 260-3749.
OPPT staff have represented
the Office and its interests in all
sectors of the EPA Common
Sense Initiative (CSI), launched
by Administrator Carol Browner
two years ago to identify "cleaner,
cheaper and smarter" approach-
es to environmental protection in
partnership with industry, the
environmental community, and
others. In addition to heading
the Common Sense Initiative's
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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Common Sense Initiative:
Computer and Electronics
Subcommittee
computers and electronics sec-
tor (see next project below),
OPPT staff and initiatives have
played important roles in all CSI
sectors. In fact, pollution pre-
vention and reporting reform
have become two of the most
prominent themes among the
projects proposed by the six CSI
sectors in the past year. The
metal finishing CSI sector
intends to test a "zero-dis-
charge" or closed loop system
for various plating lines. It has
also begun a chrome plating pol-
lution prevention (P2) project
which would apply low-cost
technologies to bring companies
into compliance with Maximum
Achievable Control Technology
(MACT) standards.
The CSI printing sector is
another sector with two strong
prevention activities: multi-
media flexible permitting and
the New York Education project,
which would incorporate P2
principles into the operations of
community printing establish-
ments. OPPT staff also support
the CSI auto assembly sector,
whose auto life-cycle manage-
ment/partnerships initiative
will utilize supplier/producer
relationships to improve envi-
ronmental stewardship in an
economically efficient manner.
Further, major OPPT initiatives
like International Standards
Organization (ISO) 14000, facili-
ty identification initiative, and
environmental accounting are
being pursued in several sec-
tors. For, more information,
contact: John Cross, (202)
260-3557.
A major purpose of the EPA
Common Sense Initiative is to
examine how industry can
increase its recycling activities
and minimize pollution. OPPT
leads the Computer and Elec-
tronics Subcommittee, which has
focused on providing these
industries with needed pollution
prevention information.
The Common Sense Initiative
was undertaken so that EPA and
affected groups could examine
opportunities for environmental
protection by industrial sectors
rather than by individual facility
or chemical. OPPT is responsible
for the computer and electronics
sector. In December, 1994, the
EPA Administrator appointed a
diverse membership of 26 to the
computer and electronics sub-
committee. Members have
examined regulations, technolo-
gy, pollution prevention, and
other factors important to pro-
tecting the environment.
In response to the subcommit-
tee's recommendation, EPA
offices are cooperating in devel-
oping a document with policy
interpretations and guidance
materials related to recycling. The
goal is to inform industrial facili-
ties about exactly what they need
to do when they undertake activi-
ties to prevent pollution and to
recycle waste material. One goal
of the Common Sense Initiative is
to remove barriers that hinder
industry from taking on such
activities. For further assistance,
industrial facilities will be able to
use EPA's regulatory database to
easily see which regulations apply
to their pollution prevention
activities, again encouraging
them to tackle recycling and other
1996 Annual Report
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pollution prevention activities.
For more information, contact:
John Bowser, (202) 260-1771; John
Alter, (202) 260-4315.
Environmental
Accounting Project
Environmental Justice
through Pollution
Prevention Grants
Working with industry, this
project provides businesses with
information on costs and bene-
fits of using pollution preven-
tion (P2) measures as a
business tool.
The Environmental Accounting
Project began in 1992 as a means
of encouraging businesses to
understand the full spectrum of
their environmental costs,
including costs of waste dispos-
al. Stakeholders believed that
industries would be more will-
ing to adopt pollution preven-
tion measures when they could
clearly see the benefits, especial-
ly monetary benefits. By mak-
ing the costs visible, business
managers could use them in
decisionmaking. At a stakehold-
ers meeting in 1993, an action
agenda was developed for the
Environmental Accounting
Project. The project has carried
out numerous activities to help
individual businesses analyze
their pollution costs and
decrease their amounts of
pollution.
These activities include: a net-
work with more than 650 mem-
bers; several publications
describing how to use environ-
mental accounting as a business
management tool; publication of
case studies; and development
of P2/FINANCE, a software
tool designed to help companies
incorporate environmental costs
into , their capital budgeting
decisions. There are plans
in the future to upgrade
P2/FINANCE; publish informa-
tion about estimating potential
environmental liabilities; and
develop workshops and courses
to publicize the techniques and
benefits of environmental
accounting. For more informa-
tion, contact: Holly Elwood, (202)
260-4362; Susan McLaughlin,
(202) 260-3844.
By competitively funding pol-
lution prevention activities in
disadvantaged and minority
communities, OPPT hopes to
reduce environmental risks in
areas often ignored.
In a continuing effort to pro-
mote three of EPA's highest pri-
orities—pollution prevention,
environmental justice, and com-
munity-based environmental
protection—OPPT administered
the second round of grants
under the Environmental Justice
through Pollution Prevention
grants program. Environmental
justice refers to the fair treatment
of all people, regardless of race,
culture, income, education, and
other characteristics, with
respect to environmental laws,
regulations, and policies.
Pollution prevention activities
can help reduce environmental
risks in disadvantaged and
minority communities; and pro-
mote private/public partner-
ships.
In cooperation with EPA's
regional offices, 11 grants were
awarded in economically disad-
vantaged and minority commu-
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing
Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing: Construction
Pilot Project
nities to fund such activities as
training, research surveys, and
development of non-regulatory
pollution prevention strategies.
As examples, OPPT will work
with the Korean Drycleaner's
Association to promote a wet-
cleaning process as a viable com-
mercial alternative to dry-clean-
ing with hazardous chemicals.
OPPT has provided funding to
the Tulalip Tribe of Washington
State to develop a model Tribal
Environmental Policy Act, which
can serve as a model for other
tribal governments. For more
information, contact Chen Wen,
(202) 260-4109.
This project provides pur-
chasers with environmental
information to be used in their
decision making process. The
pilot involves the Federal
Government's purchase of
cleaning products.
The purpose of this project is
to encourage purchasers for fed-
eral agencies to choose products
that are less harmful to the envi-
ronment. To accomplish this
task, purchasers need compara-
tive information on the environ-
mental and other properties of
various categories of products,
such as cleaning products. The
project began in 1993, when
President Clinton issued
Executive Order 12873, which
required EPA to propose ways
that federal purchasers could
consider environmental charac-
teristics in their purchasing deci-
sions. EPA's approach to fulfill-
ing this mandate was to develop
general guidance and to imple-
ment a series of pilot products
on specific product categories to
establish more detailed guid-
ance for federal purchasers. The
first pilot project, focused on
cleaning products, became a col-
laborative effort among EPA, the
General Services Administration
(GSA) and the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC).
In February, 1996, the results
of this pilot were presented as a
matrix in the GSA Commercial
Cleaning Supplies catalogue,
which described seven environ-
mental attributes and the clean-
ing properties of cleaning prod-
ucts. The matrix is being widely
distributed and publicized.
During 1997, the collaborating
agencies will evaluate the suc-
cess of the pilot project in chang-
ing purchasing behavior. In a
second pilot project, OPPT will
develop comparative environ-
mental information for latex
paints. For more information,
contact: Conrad Flessner, (202)
260-3918.
OPPT is working with the
Department of Defense to pilot a
project examining how to reno-
vate parking lots in an environ-
mentally preferable manner.
The Department of Defense
has committed to the
Construction Pilot Project which
examines environmental prefer-
ability within the context of
exterior (e.g., parking lots) reno-
vations in the metropolitan
Washington area. This pilot
focuses on modifying the pro-
curement process in order to fos-
ter consideration of environ-
1996 Annual Report
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Environmental Technology
Initiative (ETI) for
Chemicals
mental preferability. In July, the
pilot team published a Draft
Request for Proposal which
reflects a price differential incen-
tive for the contractor selected
for the renovations to identify
and use products that are envi-
ronmentally preferable. The
lessons learned and product
information obtained from this
pilot will be adapted for use in
much larger-scale renovations
currently underway in the
Pentagon. Thus, the positive
spill-over effect of the smaller-
scale parking lot pilot will be
tremendous. For more informa-
tion, contact: Ruth Heikkinen,
(202) 260-1803.
Under this initiative OPPT
encourages industry to reduce
risks from specified classes of
chemicals or use sectors, primar-
ily through use of safer chemi-
cals and technologies.
The primary goal of the ETI
for Chemicals is to reduce risks
to human health and the envi-
ronment. Toward this end, the
program pursues two key strate-
gies: One is to recognize and
encourage the introduction of
safer new chemicals and tech-
nologies; the other is to adopt
risk management practices that
focus on a class of chemicals or a
particular use sector.
In 1996, the ETI for Chemicals
launched three major projects
with industry. In July, the
Agency entered into a partner-
ship with Union Carbide and its
future customers covering a new
class of surfactants that signifi-
cantly lowers environmental
risks and furthers pollution pre-
vention goals. A voluntary
agreement governing risk man-
agement under the partnership
includes provisions on enhanced
product stewardship and mea-
sures of success. As part of a sec-
ond initiative, the program has
worked with isocyanate manu-
facturers and related parties to
explore ways to minimize work-
er exposure to isocyanates in
spray coating operations.
In November, the Agency
formed a second partnership
with the Brominated Flame
Retardant Industry Panel to look
for pollution prevention and risk
reduction opportunities within
the flame retardant industry sec-
tor. Work is expected to continue
with these three groups and
expand to other chemical/use
categories.
The ETI for Chemicals
approach represents a new
model for chemical risk manage-
ment in OPPT, one based on flex-
ibility and results, which would
replace or supplement tradition-
al chemical-by-chemical regula-
tion, as appropriate. For more
information, contact: Ken Moss,
(202) 260-1096.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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EPA Voluntary Standards
Network and the ISO 14000
Environmental
Management Standards
The Voluntary Standards
Network, housed in OPPT, is the
Agency's principal mechanism
for coordinating all activities
relating to voluntary standards.
Established in 1993 by Carol
Browner, the Network has
grown to over 130 Agency mem-
bers including lead Standards
Coordinators for each program
office and region. The increas-
ing Agency involvement in vol-
untary standards, including ISO
14000, reflects the concerns and
interests of stakeholder groups.
Two major events have
spurred a recent trend favor-
ing the use of voluntary stan-
dards. First, the Environmental
Management System (EMS) stan-
dards and Auditing standards
(ISO 14001 and 14010 respective-
ly) were finalized by internation-
al consensus. It paves the way
toward organization implemen-
tation of such systems and the
related potential for improved
compliance, pollution preven-
tion and continuous improve-
ment — areas that an EMS may
address and areas that the
Agency is actively exploring.
Second, the National Technology
Transfer and Advancement Act
(NTTAA) together with the guid-
ance of OMB Circular A-119,
require that federal agencies use
voluntary standards in their
activities and participate in their
development. This statute com-
pels Agency participation and
activity with ISO 14000 and
other voluntary standards.
The Network is becoming
increasingly involved with the
following: encouraging pollu-
tion prevention and regulatory
compliance within an EMS and
audit approach; promoting the
involvement of NGOs and SMEs
to the standards development
and standards implementation
process; investigating risk man-
agement and lender criteria
issues potentially associated
with the insurance and financial
services industry; and partici-
pating in the development of a
credible private sector EMS reg-
istration process.
The Network also interacts
with other groups interested in
the relationship between envi-
ronmental protection, perfor-
mance and ISO 14000. The
Network is working with an
OECA Task Force as well as the
Multi-State Working Group in
the area of performance metrics'
development to evaluate this
relationship consistently across
projects and pilots. A work-
group within the National
Pollution Prevention Roundtable
is also interested in the relation-
ship of an EMS and P2 as well as
the issue of performance mea-
surement and evaluation.
Finally, EPA serves with DOE
as co-chairs in an ISO 14000
workgroup within the Inter-
Agency Committee on
Standards Policy (ICSP). This
workgroup is focusing on the
role of the federal government
with regard to implementation
or integration of an EMS; pro-
viding technical assistance;
procurement; and performance
indicators.
The Network coordinates the
development of Agency position
statements on all of the ISO
14000 standards including eco-
labeling and life cycle assess-
ment standards. It is also orga-
nizing an ISO awareness, activi-
ties update and issue-raising
1996 Annual Report
-------
Green Chemistry
Green Chemistry Challenge
conference for EPA Headquar-
ters with the Office of
the Administrator Reinvention
Team, the Office of Water and
the Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response. The
Network has two facts sheets
available through the Pollution
Prevention Information Clearing-
house (PPIC). For copies of the
fact sheets, contact: PPIC, (202)
260-1023. For more information
on ISO and the Network contact:
Mary McKiel, (202) 260-3584.
ESSEEQEHEa:
The goal of the Green
Chemistry Program is to foster
the use of innovative chemical
methods that accomplish pollu-
tion prevention in both a scien-
tifically-sound and cost-effective
manner through voluntary part-
nerships.
The Green Chemistry
Program recognizes and pro-
motes chemical methods that
reduce or eliminate the use or
generation of toxic substances
during the design, manufacture,
and use of chemical products
and processes and that have
broad application in industry.
The program also supports
research in the area of environ-
mentally benign chemistry and
promotes partnerships with
industry in developing green
chemistry technologies. For
more information, contact: Tracy
Williamson, (202) 260-3960.
The Green Chemistry
Challenge was announced
by President Clinton on March
16, 1995 as part of
the Reinventing Environmental
Regulations Initiative to "pro-
mote pollution prevention and
industrial ecology through a
new EPA Design for the
Environment partnership with
the chemical industry."
The Green Chemistry
Challenge both supports basic
research through grants and rec-
ognizes outstanding results. Two
major activities that the program
supports are: 1) development
and use of alternative solvents
that do not contribute to air pol-
lution, and 2) the design of
chemicals that reduce the poten-
tial for accidents from explosion
or fires. The Green Chemistry
Challenge uses an awards pro-
gram to recognize outstanding
accomplishments in chemistry
that can lead to substantial
progress in preventing pollution.
In 1996, the following received
Green Chemistry awards:
• Monsanto Corporation, for
creating a new process to man-
ufacture the widely used con-
sumer herbicide, Roundup®;
• The Dow Chemical
Company, for finding a
replacement for CFCs and
other volatile organic com-
pounds used in the manufac-
ture of foam products.
• Rohm and Haas Corporation,
for designing its product
"Sea-Nine" as a safer marine
anti-foulant for boat and ship
hulls.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Donlar Corporation, for its
development of polyaspar-
tates, a new class of less toxic,
biodegradable polymers.
Professor Mark T. Holtzapple
at Texas A&M University, for
his research in using agricul-
tural wastes (biomass) in a
wide variety of products,
including animal feed, fuels,
and high value chemicals.
For more information, con-
tact: Tracy Williamson, (202)
260-3960.
Green Chemistry
Curriculum Development
Interagency Partnerships
and Industry-University -
Government Partnerships
Media Association
Pollution Prevention Forum
OPPT supports a variety of
educational efforts that include
the development of materials
and courses to assist in teaching
chemistry students and profes-
sional chemists the concepts of
green chemistry and pollution
prevention.
The chemical industry is dis-
covering that when professional
chemists understand pollution
prevention concepts, they can
identify, develop, and implement
technologies that prevent pollu-
tion and save companies money.
For more information, contact:
Paul Anastas, (202) 260-2257.
EPA is working with other
proponents of Green Chemistry
to further advance the goals of
the program.
The Green Chemistry Program
has established several partner-
ships with other groups that are
promoting pollution prevention
through Green Chemistry.
Within the federal government,
EPA has cooperated with the
National Science Foundation and
with Los Alamos National
Laboratory to support green
chemistry research. Outside the
federal government, the Green
Chemistry Program provides
support to several industry/uni-
versity/government consortia
that are seeking ways to reduce
the use and emissions of toxic
chemicals using green chemistry.
For more information, contact:
Paul Anastas, (202) 260-2257.
This project provides a way
for state environmental officials
from air, water, and solid waste
programs to share ideas about
integrating pollution prevention
and multimedia concerns into
their programs.
In 1996, OPPT established this
forum to enable senior state
environmental officials who
direct, air, water, waste and toxic
programs to share ideas about
integrating P2 and multi-media
concerns into their programs.
This ad hoc group met twice in
1996, and will continue to meet
periodically to examine oppor-
tunities for incorporating cross-
media, multi-media pollution
prevention concepts into envi-
ronmental management prac-
tices. This group is EPA's only
forum that brings together
senior state officials from pro-
grams representing all the envi-
ronmental media. For more
information, contact: Lena Hann
Ferris, (202) 260-2237.
1996 Annual Report
-------
OECD-EPA Harmonized
Test Guidelines
Internationally, differences in
test guidelines lead to unneces-
sary testing of chemicals in
world commerce. OPPT is
working with the Office of
Pesticide Programs (OPP) and
the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD) to harmonize test
guidelines, which will reduce
non-tariff trade barriers.
Harmonization creates testing
guidelines that are consistent
between program offices and
OECD member countries. Once
guidelines are harmonized, test
results are shared between
offices and OECD member
countries which reduces unnec-
essary testing of chemicals in
world commerce and reduces
non-tariff trade barriers. The
project harmonizes existing
OPPT and OPP guidelines and
then harmonizes these with
OECD. Ecotoxicology guide-
lines were reviewed by the
Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP)
in May 1996, and health effects
guidelines were reviewed in
October, 1996. Both are being
revised in light of SAP com-
ments. Already 19 ecotoxicolo-
gy guidelines have been harmo-
nized; 4 with OPPTS and OECD;
2 with OPPT and OECD; and 13
with OPPT and OPP. Thirty
health effects guidelines have
been harmonized between
OPPTS and OECD and 10 have
been harmonized between
OPPT and OPP.
In areas where the science in
the OPPTS guidelines had pro-
gressed beyond that in the OECD
guidelines, the revised U.S.
guidelines have had a significant
impact upon the OECD guide-
lines. This is particularly true in
the areas of neurotoxicity, devel-
opmental neurotoxicity, and
developmental and reproductive
biology. The revised guidelines
will be available through the EPA
Internet and the Government
Printing Office (GPO) bulletin
board. Hard copies may be
requested through the GPO. For
more information, contact:
Angela Auletta, (202) 260-1513.
Paperless Office
To operate more efficiently and
in the spirit of pollution preven-
tion, OPPT has created a vision of
a paperless office where all infor-
mation would be shared electron-
ically through the Internet and the
internal. Local Area Network
(LAN).
A 1995 internal evaluation of
how OPPT creates, stores and
uses information to accomplish its
programmatic mission showed
that OPPT's chemical review
processes are generally inefficient
in their management of informa-
tion. To remedy this, in FY96,
OPPT established a dedicated
team to implement the paperless
office vision and establish the nec-
essary infrastructure. Lotus Notes
will be the primary software used
to implement the paperless office,
and the team has established a
Lotus Notes file server and
installed Lotus Notes for about 25
percent of the OPPT staff. The
team has identified ten OPPT pro-
jects as candidates for reengineer-
ing and implementation of work-
flow applications in Lotus Notes,
and is conducting Lotus Notes
training and demonstrations. For
more information, contact: Dan
Helfgott, (202) 260-2291.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Partnership Programs
Coordinating Committee
Pollution Prevention
Incentives for States
Over the last several years, a
number of voluntary partnership
programs have been created at
EPA, due to the success of this
approach both in meeting envi-
ronmental goals and in saving
money for participants. OPPT is
a key player in the Partner-
ship Programs Coordinating
Committee, a group established
to coordinate and improve EPA's
voluntary partnership programs.
Through an array of partner-
. ship programs collectively
referred to as Partners for the
Environment, EPA is working to
demonstrate that voluntary com-
mitments achieve real environ-
mental results in a timely and
cost-effective way. Since the
Agency launched this voluntary
approach in the early 1990's with
the 33/50 Program and the Green
Lights Program, thousands of
organizations have joined with
the Agency to reach a range
of important environmental
goals.
EPA created the Partner-
ship Programs Coordinating
Committee to increase public
awareness of the Agency's volun-
tary programs, and to foster coor-
dination and continuing improve-
ments among all of our
Partnership Programs. The coor-
dinating committee consists of
representatives of every major
EPA office and several of the
Agency's regions. The Committee
has created a summary catalogue
and fact sheet on all of EPA's vol-
untary programs, and is trying to
improve internal efficiency in
running the Partners for the
Environment programs, and
strengthen the programs' commu-
nication and services to customers.
Current projects include
exploring and strengthening syn-
ergies among partnership pro-
grams that share similar goals;
developing common metrics for
measuring, the environmental
benefits of partnership programs;
increasing coordination among
and between EPA Headquarters
and Regional offices that manage
partnership programs; increasing
joint outreach efforts, which will
include the first all-inclusive
Partnership Program outreach
and recognition event; and coor-
dinating EPA's partnership pro-
gram activities with the
Vice President's National
Performance Review. For more
information, contact: Holly
Elwood, (202) 260-4362 or Sheila
Canavan, (202) 260-8616.
OPPT is funding and sup-
porting several activities to
encourage state and local gov-
ernments to implement pollu-
tion prevention activities in the
public and private sector.
In 1996, approximately $5 mil-
lion was awarded through the
Pollution Prevention Incentives
for States (PPIS) Program.
Through EPA's regional offices,
states can apply for grants to cre-
ate new pollution prevention
approaches and to educate the
public and industry about these
new methods. In general, these
grants fund projects in the areas
of technical assistance and
training, education and out-
reach, regulatory integration,
demonstration projects, legisla-
tive activities, and awards and
recognition programs. The
incentive program demon-
1996 Annual Report
15
-------
strates how pollution preven-
tion can reduce risks to human
health and the environment,
while also saving organizations
money by reducing raw materi-
al losses, decreasing the need
for exp'ensive "end-of-pipe"
technologies, and decreasing
long-term liability. The funding
is directed to the states because
they are more knowledgeable
about local conditions, industry,
and problems than the national
government.
EPA released an assessment of
the PPIS grant program, which
found that incentive funds had
paid for almost 5,000 pollution
prevention assessments, more
than 850 workshops to share pol-
lution prevention strategies, and
the development of nearly 400
case studies. The grant program
enabled states to reach compa-
nies in 35 targeted industry sec-
tors, as well as the agricultural,
transportation and energy sec-
tors, to help them recognize the
benefits of pollution prevention.
For more information, contact:
Lena Hann Ferris, (202) 260-2237.
Pollution Prevention
Through Regulation
OPPT plays a key role in pro-
moting cross-media and pollu-
tion prevention approaches in
EPA regulations.
OPPT plays a key strategic and
facilitative role in coordinating
EPA's efforts to promote cross-
media and pollution prevention
approaches through its air, water,
and solid waste regulations. In
1992 OPPT initiated the Source
Reduction Review Project (SRRP)
which aimed to systematically
change how EPA's environmen-
tal media programs developed
their regulations. In February
1996, OPPT published an assess-
ment of SRRP lessons, and sever-
al model rules that are setting
precedents in promoting pollu-
tion prevention.
From this project, EPA learned
that pollution prevention think-
ing in the regulatory context
leads to regarding a situation
more holistically, discovering
the cross-media impacts that
may be associated with single-
media decision-making, and rec-
ognizing options for taking
cross-media trade-offs into
account. In addition, the assess-
ment revealed that just as it is
easier to promote pollution pre-
vention among facilities whose
processes are relatively similar,
it helps to define industry cate-
gories rather narrowly for regu-
latory purposes. It was also
found that responsible and cre-
ative use of flexibility and eco-
nomic incentives within a regu-
lation can help to promote pollu-
tion prevention. Another dis-
covery is the importance of sys-
tems decision-making, such as
in the planning, budgeting, and
legislative arenas, on pollution
prevention outcomes in individ-
ual regulations. For more infor-
mation, contact: Kathy Davey,
(202) 260-2290.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Pollution Prevention Trade
Association Workgroup
Pro-Manufacture Notice
(PMN) Review Process
PMN Review Process:
31,000 Chemicals Reviewed
Chemicals Requiring Regulation
The Pollution Prevention
Trade Association Workgroup is
made up of representatives from
various trade associations who
work to create tools and dissemi-
nate information to help trade
associations promote pollution
prevention in their member com-
panies.
Trade associations are playing
a growing role in communicating
and advancing environmental
goals. Promoting pollution pre-
vention requires industry-specif-
ic knowledge and the ability to
combine the resources of compa-
nies to address industry-wide
concerns, making the role of
trade associations pivotal. In
1995, OPPT organized a work-
group of interested trade associa-
tion staff to encourage pollution
prevention. In 1996, the work-
group produced a benchmark-
ing/resource document, "The P2
Resources Compendium" which
contains information on the pol-
lution prevention policies and
products of various trade associ-
ations. The group also sponsors
a program of monthly dialogue
sessions which focus on a given
P2-related project, allowing EPA
staff and trade associations to
discuss issues of concern on an
informal basis. In June, 1996, the
workgroup held the national P2
Trade Association Symposium
which presented case studies,
lessons learned, and practical
pollution prevention ideas. The
group planned to hold another
Symposium in 1997, continue to
implement and improve upon
the existing products, and
explore additional ways to pro-
mote pollution prevention. In
1997, the American Institute for
Pollution Prevention will be
helping the workgroup move
forward on a variety of projects.
For more information, contact:
Leah Yasenchak, (202) 260-7854.
As mandated under Section 5
of TSCA, OPPT reviews all new
chemicals submitted to the
Agency.
TSCA started reviewing new
chemical notices in 1979 and
began reviewing cases using a
category approach in 1988. In
FY96, 1,892 total notices were
reviewed. A total of 211 poly-
mers were reported under the
new polymer exemption that did
not require submission prior to
manufacture. Thirty chemicals
were signed under TSCA section
5(e) consent orders, 79 chemicals
were withdrawn in the face of
regulation, and test data were
received for another 62 chemi-
cals. A total of 31,000 new chem-
icals have been reviewed to date.
Of these, 3,100 or 10% of chemi-
cals reviewed were regulated
(i.e. required exposure controls,
were limited in their use,
or required testing). Of the
approximately 2,000 notices
received in FY96, almost 10%
required regulation. Coordina-
tion is required with other OPPT
and EPA Programs so that expo-
sure models can be developed.
For more information, contact:
Anna Coutlakis, (202) 260-3592.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Project XL
Small Business
Development Center Pilots:
Pennsylvania and Vermont
Project XL gives responsible
companies and other regulated
parties the flexibility to replace
the requirements of the current
system with their own alterna-
tive strategies to achieve
better bottom-line environmen-
tal results.
Project XL provides an oppor-
tunity for companies to demon-
strate that they can achieve bet-
ter bottom-line environmental
results than possible under cur-
rent regulatory constraints.
Since the beginning of Project
XL, OPPT staff have been part of
an Agency core group that has
helped EPA's Office of Policy,
Planning and Evaluation pro-
vide overall direction for the pro-
ject. Further, OPPT has promot-
ed several specific prevention-
oriented Project XL proposals,
including the Intel Corporation
facility design project, HADCO
corporation waste recycling, and
the Lucent Technologies (former-
ly AT&T Microelectronics) water
pollution prevention project,
based in part on the new ISO
14000 voluntary environmental
standards. For more informa-
tion, contact: Chen Wen, (202)
260-4109.
OPPT, in an effort to reach
small businesses and generate
positive real-world environmen-
tal results, has begun pilot pro-
grams in Vermont and
Pennsylvania to demonstrate the
value of delivering environmen-
tal assistance services to small
firms within a business develop-
ment context.
OPPT is looking at pollution
prevention as an approach to
environmental problem solving
in addition to an end in itself.
Using this concept to achieve
positive environmental results in
the small business community
requires: technical assistance,
with an emphasis on adoption of
cleaner technologies; compliance
assistance, with emphasis on
staying ahead of the "regulatory
curve;" and business develop-
ment assistance. The Small
Business Development Centers
(SBDCs), funded jointly by
the U.S. Small Business Admin-
istration and the States, deliver
business development assistance
through a network of about 1,000
centers across the country.
These centers do not usually
have environmental expertise in-
house.
To explore the potential of
using this network to provide
environmental assistance to
small businesses, OPPT has
funded two pilots, one in
Vermont and one in
Pennsylvania. The Vermont pro-
ject, which began in 1995, has
been very successful, and an
environmental component is
now a permanent part of that
state's SBDC. The Pennsylvania
project is newer, but shows,
promise of being equally suc-
cessful. Based upon the experi-
ence of these pilots, OPPT will be
working with the Association of
Small Business Development
Centers to help this organization
build an environmental compo-
nent into its National Delivery
System. For more information,
contact: Ed Weiler, (202) 260-
2996.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
SMART
Review
Program
OPPT is assessing the pollu-
tion potential of chemicals that
industry is developing for com-
mercial production to provide
suggestions for making new
products less toxic.
OPPT is examining the pollu-
tion potential associated with the
manufacture, as well as the use
of, new products. For chemicals
of concern, OPPT provides sug-
gestions to the manufacturer
developing the new chemical
about green chemistry technolo-
gies that might make the new
chemical more environmentally
benign. The submitter may con-
sider these for current and future
chemical development. For
more information, contact: Carol
Farris, (202) 260-1732.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Promoting Safer Chemicals
Pivmote the design, development and application of less toxic chemicals, processes and technologies in
iht> industrial sector of the economy.
Aerylates Testing
Agreement
Acute Exposure Guidelines
for Hazardous Substances
The Acrylates Testing
Agreement provides information
on the health effects of acrylates.
This program employed strategic
testing of representative mem-
bers of this category of chemicals
to evaluate the potential for toxi-
city for an entire class of com-
mercially promising acrylates or
methacrylates. The costs were
shared by a large group of acry-
lates manufacturers.
New chemical acrylates have
been regulated since 1983. In
1989, the Specialty Acrylates
Manufacturers (SAM) and OPPT
agreed to a voluntary testing pro-
gram which included biochemi-
cal reactivity studies and two
long term bioassays for a pair of
acrylate/methacrylate sub-
stances. In exchange for the test-
ing program, OPPT agreed to
eliminate requirements for cancer
warnings on labels and signifi-
cant new use rules (SNUR)—a
requirement that EPA must be
notified if a chemical will be pro-
duced for any significantly new
use or new chemical acrylates —
and agreed to begin work on a
Generic Acrylate SNUR.
In FY96, EPA completed
review of the test results, and
agreed that neither the represen-
tative acrylate or methacrylate
was carcinogenic under study
conditions. However, EPA
remains concerned that some
acrylates may be carcinogenic
after repeated application, at
higher doses. Based on these
findings, EPA no longer regu-
lates acrylates or methacrylates
as a category for health concerns.
However, if an acrylate or
methacrylate is structurally close
to a substance for which EPA has
concerns, EPA may regulate it
based on potential unreasonable
risk. This will now be done on a
case-by-case basis and will elim-
inate most regulation of acry-
lates and methacrylates, espe-
cially higher molecular weight
and polymeric substances. This
project used "government-
industry thinking" to provide a
better understanding of the hun-
dreds of existing acrylate sub-
stances already on the TSCA
Inventory, and to eliminate
unnecessary regulations. For
more information, contact: Jim
Alwood, (202) 260-1857.
There is currently a lack of sci-
entifically credible, short-term
exposure limits for many acutely
toxic chemicals. These exposure
limits are necessary for effective
emergency planning and
response, and exposure preven-
tion. To remedy this lack, a col-
laborative effort among govern-
ment and private sector scien-
tists was begun to evaluate
chemicals so that safe exposure
limits could be determined.
The National Program for the
20
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Benzidine-
Based Dyes
Development of Acute Exposure
Guidelines for Hazardous
Substances established an ongo-
ing collaborative effort among
scientists in federal and state
agencies and the private sector to
develop short-term exposure
limits for a large number of
acutely toxic chemicals. These
exposure limits are critical in a
wide range of important applica-
tions involving emergency plan-
ning and response, prevention of
accidental releases of toxic chem-
icals in occupational settings,
transportation activities, and
establishment of exposure limits
in local communities.
The intent of the project is to
develop more short-term expo-
sure limits for 300-400 haz-
ardous substances in an efficient
and cost-effective manner, with
one set of uniform values to be
used nationally for a wide range
of applications.
Since this project began as a
concept in 1987, work has been
done to build participation and
scientific support for the effort,
and to develop a comprehensive
methodology and peer review
process. To date, this national
program has attracted three EPA
program offices, eight other fed-
eral agencies, six state agencies,
representatives from local agen-
cies, private industry, academic
institutions, the American
Industrial Hygiene Association,
and numerous other organiza-
tions in the private sector.
During FY96, the first year of
operation, the committee devel-
oped 108 proposed acute expo-
sure guideline levels (AEGLs)
for nine hazardous chemicals.
Additionally, the group is
exploring the possibility of
expanding to include European
and Pacific rim countries in
order to develop one set of uni-
form exposure guideline levels
to be used world-wide. For more
information, contact: Paul Tobin,
(202) 260-1736.
OPPT is working to ensure
that the carcinogenic benzidine-
based dyes remain out of com-
merce.
Benzidine and benzidine-
based dyes are potent animal
carcinogens, and benzidine is
also a human carcinogen. By
1993, industry had stopped the
use of benzidine-based dyes in
the United States. To ensure that
benzidine-based dyes stay off
the market, late in 1996 EPA pub-
lished a rule that ensures that
these dyes cannot be returned to
commerce without EPA's
approval. OPPT is now trying to
eliminate the use of closely relat-
ed chemicals, called benzidine-
congener dyes, because they
may also present a significant
cancer risk. OPPT is negotiating
with the two remaining U.S.
manufacturers of these dyes to
agree on ways to reduce or elim-
inate the risks associated with
benzidine congener dyes. For
more information, contact: Karen
Lannon (benzidine-based sub-
stances), (202) 260-2797; Dan
Helfgott (benzidine congener
dyes), (202) 260-1096.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Bioremediation
Field Trial
Biotechnology (TSCA)
Regulations
Cancer Expert
System
For the first time, EPA
approved the use of certain
microorganisms in field research
to test their ability to decompose
hazardous chemical waste. A
successful test would provide an
additional way of removing
existing hazardous organic
chemicals from the environment.
In March 1996, QPPT
approved the first environmen-
tal use of intergeneric micro-
organisms for bioremedial
research. (An intergeneric organ-
ism is one that contains genetic
material from organisms from
more than one genus; a category
by which organisms are classi-
fied.) The research is being
done at the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory. OPPT anticipates
that requests for approval to test
other intergeneric microorgan-
isms for bioremediation activity
will increase in the future. For
more information, contact:
David E. Giamporcaro, (202)
260-6362.
These regulations will simpli-
fy the reporting requirements for
the biotechnology industry.
The final biotechnology rule
expected to be promulgated in
Fall, 1997, will establish regula-
tions that will reduce the report-
ing burden on the biotechnology
industry while being fully pro-
tective of human health and the
environment. These regulations
include exemptions from over-
sight at the commercial and
research and development stages
for microorganisms which the
Agency has determined, based
on substantial past experience,
may not present an unreasonable
risk to health or the environ-
ment. The TSCA Biotechnology
Program within OPPT has close
ties to the Design for the
Environment program, various
Environmental Technology
Initiative projects, and the Green
Chemistry program. For more
information, contact: David E.
Giamporcaro, (202) 260-6362.
The Cancer Expert System has
been used to capture EPA's exper-
tise, improve the accuracy and
consistency of prediction of car-
cinogeniciiy, and make OPPT sci-
entific expertise accessible
throughout the world. Through
use of the system, public and
health protection officials world-
wide will be able to better identi-
fy potential carcinogens and
understand their relative hazards,
and private industries will be
able to design safer chemicals.
EPA has long used Structure
Activity Relationship (SAR)
analysis to effectively predict and
assess the potential toxicity of
chemicals. OPPT scientists
involved in making toxicity pre-
dictions about the carcinogenic
potential of chemicals initiated
the development of an SAR rule-
based Cancer Expert System
which would use their knowl-
edge of chemical structures and
properties to predict the carcino-
genic potential of chemicals. This
system: 1) captures and enhances
EPA expertise in predictive toxi-
cology in a formalized system, 2)
reduces/eliminates inconsisten-
cy, 3) allows non-experts to obtain
expert judgments themselves, 4)
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Core TSCA Enforcement
Project
Dermal Absorption Rate
Data Development
expedites risk assessments and
decision making, 5) provides a
framework to identify knowledge
gaps, and 6) provides guidance to
private industries in design of
safer chemicals. The system has
been accomplishment by scien-
tists in academia, research and
regulatory agencies, and could
have a significant impact on
human health and environmental
protection worldwide.
Future improvements will
involve generating new modules
to allow the user to incorporate
known biological data into the
program and use that data to
refine the cancer assessments
generated by the expert SAR
rules. Through an agreement
with the software developer, the
Cancer Expert System will be
made available at distribution
cost to national and international
federal and state agencies, non-
profit organizations engaged in
environmental protection, and
unions. For more information,
contact: Ernie Falke, (202)
260-3433.
The purpose of this project is
to ensure coordination and com-
munication among OPPT, the
Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance (OECA),
and Regional inspectors in activ-
ities relating to compliance assis-
tance and enforcement of TSCA.
The Core TSCA Enforcement
Project ensures coordination
among the various parts of the
Agency with responsibility for
compliance assistance and
enforcement of TSCA. During
FY96, projects were undertaken
to improve Regional access
to databases maintained by
Headquarters for use in: 1)
inspection targeting, 2) dissemi-
nation of risk-based Section 5(e)
Consent Orders for follow-up
inspections, and 3) revision of
Section 5(e) Consent Order pro-
visions to address notification of
EPA Regional offices in advance
of manufacture of chemical sub-
stances subject to such Orders.
This project involves close
coordination between OPPT's
New and Existing Chemical
Programs, the Regional Core
TSCA inspectors, and OECA. For
more information, contact:
David E. Giamporcaro, (202)
260-6362.
EPA is working to ensure that
more studies on the rate of
absorption of chemicals through
the skin will be conducted.
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA)
needs data on the rate of absorp-
tion of chemicals through human
skin (dermal absorption) to
determine whether workers
need to wear protective equip-
ment when handling certain
chemicals. OSHA requested that
the TSCA Interagency Testing
Committee (ITC) review the cur-
rent scientific literature on der-
mal absorption rates. The ITC
determined that the existing data
are inadequate. EPA was asked
to require industry to test 80
chemicals for which more infor-
mation was needed. In anticipa-
tion of this request, OPPT and
ITC developed a test method for
1996 Annual Report
23
-------
Design for the Environment
Program
in vitro dermal absorption rate
for the mass screening of work-
place chemicals. On the basis of
this test method, EPA solicited
TSCA Section 4 Enforceable
Consent Agreement (EGA) test-
ing proposals from industry.
EPA received one offer from
industry to test one chemical via
an EGA. EPA is developing a
TSCA Section 4 test rule that will
require industry to conduct the
needed testing on the remaining
chemicals. The proposed test
rule is expected to be issued in
early 1997. For more informa-
tion, contact: Keith Cronin, (202)
260-8157.
The goal of the Design for the
Environment (DfE) Program is to
help industry make more
informed environmental deci-
sions about the use of alternative
chemicals, processes, and tech-
nologies to prevent pollution.
The program has had a substan-
tial impact in reducing pollution
since its inception in 1992. The
next 5 projects describe efforts
being made under the
DfE Program. For more informa-
tion, contact: Bill Hanson, (202)
260-3469.
Aerospace and Aviation
EPA has worked with the
aerospace and aviation indus-
tries to reduce their use of haz-
ardous solvents, especially meth-
ylene chloride. Two aerospace
and aviation projects have been
carried out under OPPT's Design
for the Environment Program.
Both began in 1994. The Lean
Aircraft Initiative was a joint
project of the Air Force and U.S.
aerospace companies to make
their activities cleaner while
remaining competitive. This ini-
tiative has resulted in significant
reductions in the use of haz-
ardous solvents during aircraft
manufacturing and maintenance
operations. Although the formal
project has ended, industry will
continue to carry out pilot pro-
jects.
The second project is the Small
Aircraft Paint Stripping project,
whose purpose is to decrease
solvent use, especially methyl-
ene chloride, in the general avia-
tion industry. The project is
being carried out by EPA, the
Coast Guard, and the general
aviation community. In 1996,
this project brought together rep-
resentatives from the general
aviation community, EPA's
Office of Air, and the Federal
Aviation Administration. They
considered ways to reduce meth-
ylene chloride use and releases,
especially in paint stripping,
while preserving aircraft safety
and the industry's competitive-
ness. In 1997, OPPT and the
Coast Guard will publish infor-
mation on ways to minimize or
eliminate the use of methylene
chloride in general aviation
maintenance operations. For
more information, contact: Ric
Peri (U.S. Coast Guard), (202) 260-
3122; Mary Dominiak (OPPT),
(202) 260-7768.
Dry Cleaning Project
The dry cleaning industry is
developing safer ways of clean-
ing clothes and is working with
fabric manufacturers so that new
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
fabrics will be able to be cleaned
without using harmful chemi-
cals.
The Dry Cleaning Project has
identified and demonstrated
alternative technologies for
cleaning clothes that do not
involve the use of the chemical
perchloroethylene which may
cause cancer. Technologies such
as wet cleaning, which uses
water-based systems, and "Dry
Wash," based on liquid CO?, are
increasingly being used. Largely
as the result of this project, the
number of dry cleaning facilities
using machine wet cleaning
instead of perchloroethylene
technology has increased from
zero to over 80 from roughly
March, 1995 to October, 1996,
with additional facilities plan-
ning to convert to the new
technologies.
On September 9-10, 1996, the
Dry Cleaning project held a
highly successful Apparel Care
and the Environment Workshop
in Washington, DC. This work-
shop brought the polymer and
textile manufacturers, and gar-
ment retailers such as J. C.
Penney and The Gap to the
stakeholders' table for the first
time. Other stakeholders con-
sisted of the fabric cleaning
industry and environmental and
labor groups. This industrial
ecology approach of including
the entire industrial web of par-
ticipants from the fabric making
and fabricare industries is
designed to make garments
more amenable to the use of
environmentally-friendly fabric
cleaning technologies. To suc-
ceed at the back end, the DfE
project is going to the front end
of the process to investigate
changes in the very properties of
the polymers used in textiles and
in garments. If the industry
reduces the number of different
polymers used in linings,
padding, and related items, it
will be easier for companies to
adopt "green fabricare" tech-
nologies. For more information,
contact: Bill Hanson, (202)
260-3469.
Outreach
Curriculum materials are
being developed to teach com-
munity college students about
pollution prevention.
In cooperation with other
organizations, the Design for
the Environment Program
established an Educational
Outreach and Curriculum
Development program in FY96
to promote the development of
pollution prevention curricu-
lum materials for use in com-
munity colleges. The materials
will integrate information
developed in several of the
Design for the Environment
projects. For more information,
contact: Irina Vaysman, (202)
260-1312.
Printing Project
The Design for the
Environment Printing Project is
working with screen printers,
lithographers, and flexographers
to identify pollution prevention
opportunities and information on
the risk, performance, and cost of
products used in their shops.
The Screen Printing Project
has completed the Screen
1996 Annual Report
-------
Drinking Water
Contaminants Testing
Action
Reclamation Cleaner Technolo-
gies Substitutes Assessment, as
well case studies, a training
video, software, and a satellite
training seminar. The Lithogra-
phy Project is currently develop-
ing a Blanket Wash Substitutes
Assessment. The ongoing
Flexography Project will begin
looking at flexographic inks in
FY97. An FY97 initiative aimed at
a fourth printing sector, the
Gravure Printers, will focus on
alternative ink application and
alternative cylinder plating tech-
nologies. For more information,
contact: Stephanie Bergman, (202)
260-1821.
Printed Wiring Board
In 1994, the Design for the
Environment Program began
working with the Printed Wiring
Board industry to assess alterna-
tive cleaner technologies for var-
ious processes.
In early 1997, the participants
in the DfE Printed Wiring Board
Project expect to complete their
assessment of alternative tech-
nologies for manufacturing
printed wiring boards. The
alternatives examined can
replace a current technology that
generates a significant amount of
hazardous waste, uses toxic
chemicals such as formaldehyde,
and consumes large quantities of
water and energy. A second
assessment is evaluating several
surface finish technologies for
their potential health and envi-
ronmental risks, performance,
and costs compared to the cur-
rent technology, which generates
lead waste and exposes workers
to lead. The project has also pro-
duced several informational
products to promote pollution
prevention in the industry. For
more information, contact:
Kathy Hart, (202) 260-1707.
EPA's Office of Water (OW)
needed information on the
health effects of certain drinking
water contaminants but does not
have the authority to require the
necessary testing. OPPT issued a
TSCA Section 4 test rule and
obtained the necessary informa-
tion for the Office of Water.
Through a test rule issued
under Section 4 of TSCA, OPPT
secured 14-day repeated dose
and 90-day subchronic toxicity
testing on chloroethane, 1,1-
dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetra-
chloroethane, and 1,3,5-
trimethylbenzene. This testing
program provided health effects
data to OW for developing
Hazard Advisories on these
drinking water contaminants.
Working with OW, OPPT pro-
posed a test rule in 1990, pub-
lished the final rule in 1993, and
received the necessary data by
1996 for review by the Office of
Water. For more information,
contact: the TSCA Hotline, (202)
554-1404.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Endocrine Disrupters:
Development of Testing
Needs
Formaldehyde Exposure
Testing
Chemicals that behave as
environmental hormones, or
endocrine disrupters, are a
chemical category of emerging
concern because of the potential
harm they can do to human
health and the environment.
There is discussion among the
scientific community regarding
the adverse impacts these chem-
icals may have. Children and
the unborn may be at particular
risk, but more studies need to be
done to determine the extent of
the risk and identify which
chemicals present a problem.
The Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA) of 1996 and the 1996
amendments to the Safe
Drinking Water Act give EPA
discretion to test certain chemi-
cals for endocrine disruption.
The FQPA in particular, requires
that pesticides be tested for
estrogenic activity and gives
EPA until August 1998 to devel-
op a strategy for doing so.
During FY96, OPPT estab-
lished the Endocrine Disruptor
Screening and Testing Advisory
Committee which, in collabora-
tion with other EPA Program
Offices, other federal agencies,
environmental groups, industry,
academia, and other interested
parties, will develop a strategy
for screening and testing of com-
pounds which may warrant test-
ing. This ongoing dialogue will
continue well into 1997. For
more information, contact: Gary
Tirnm, (202) 260-1859.'
Urea-formaldehyde (UF)
pressed wood building materials
are common in homes. These
materials emit formaldehyde, a
chemical that causes eye and res-
pirator irritation in humans and
cancer in test animals. More
information is needed to deter-
mine whether further reductions
in UF product emission stan-
dards are needed.
In 1993 OPPT held a public
meeting on its testing objectives
for ureaformaldehyde (UF)
products. In 1994, EPA and man-
ufacturers of these products
agreed to conduct pilot study
testing in both conventional and
manufactured housing which
would characterize both the
intensity and duration of poten-
tial human exposure to
formaldehyde. Due to budget
constraints, testing ended before
all tests were completed. A pilot
study final report was made
available in 1996.
EPA is now sponsoring an
ongoing peer review of the
report, looking to determine
whether additional formalde-
hyde residential exposure testing
is needed and if so, of what
nature. OPPT has also: 1) devel-
oped and issued two formalde-
hyde risk assessment documents
that have addressed the issue of
formaldehyde and cancer,
including the evidence sugges-
tive of a threshold for cancer; 2)
urged the pressed wood indus-
try to bring all of its production
under voluntary emission stan-
dards (which it has done,
although the adequacy of these
standards remains in question);
and 3) convinced the industry to
lower its voluntary emission
standards for particle board
flooring products. The testing
effort will help to resolve the
outstanding exposure questions.
1996 Annual Report
-------
New Chemicals Program
Customer Service
Standards
PMN
Exemptions
OPPT expects to hold a second
public meeting on formaldehyde
testing to obtain public input of
the implications of the pilot
study results and on the need for
additional formaldehyde expo-
sure testing. For more informa-
tion, contact: George Semeniuk,
(202) 260-2134.
The goal of this program is to
develop appropriate perfor-
mance measures in those areas
that are of greatest interest to our
customers.
In 1994, the New Chemicals
Program was selected to partici-
pate in a program to evaluate
customer service as part of the
federal government's National
Performance Review. Phase I
began in 1994 with a survey and
a filial report published in June,
1995. Phase II involved the sur-
veying of internal and external
customers again to be sure that
the areas of greatest interest have
been correctly identified before
developing standards that can be
used in benchmarking the orga-
nization. In addition, Phase II
created a Customer Service Plan
which will be used as a basis for
reporting the program's annual
performance to customers. Six
customer service standards have
been developed and reviewed by
one group of internal EPA cus-
tomers and are ready for review
by industry, after which they will
be finalized and implemented in
1997. Phase III will create trans-
action-based surveys to assess
customer satisfaction with exist-
ing new services. For more infor-
mation, contact: Anna Coutlakis,
(202) 260-3592.
Created to reduce industry's
regulatory burden, the preman-
ufacture notice (PMN) exemp-
tion process is now more flexi-
ble, and the exemptions allow
submitters to achieve significant
cost savings.
Polymer Exemptions. This ini-
tiative provides substantial ben-
efit to the environment by
encouraging industry to manu-
facture safer polymers. One
requirement of the polymer
exemption is for manufacturers
to notify EPA annually of the
number of times the exemption
was used. This reporting occurs
in January for the preceding fis-
cal year. The first such report for
FY95 indicated that 51 different
polymer manufacturers had
used the exemption for 99 poly-
mers during the final 7 months
of 1995. (The exemption took
effect in June 1995.)
EPA estimates that the total
cost savings to industry was $2-3
million during the 7-month peri-
od, based on estimated costs
associated with the submission
of a PMN ($20,000 - $30,000 for
each PMN). Estimated total sav-
ings for EPA are about $120,000,
based on the estimated cost of
reviewing a submission ($1000 -
$1200 per submission for 99
polymers). Under the rule,
industry is no longer required to
submit a PMN for polymers that
meet specified requirements.
Low Volume Exemptions. In
FY96, the allowable weight
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Product Stewardship/
Respiratory Protection In
Autobody Spray Paints
under the exemption was
increased from 1,000 to 10,000 kg
per year, and the restriction lim-
iting the exemption to one man-
ufacturer per substance was
eliminated. As a result of this
exemption, the Agency experi-
enced a significant increase in
the number of low volume
exemptions over the previous
year (FY95=309; FY96=395).
Low Release/Low Exposure
Exemptions. In FY96, six compa-
nies took advantage of this newly
introduced exemption, promul-
gated to encourage manufactur-
ers to generate new chemicals
with innovative technology that
minimized human exposure and
environmental release. EPA
expects the number of exemption
holders to increase as companies
become more familiar with the
new provisions of the exemp-
tions and their utility in allowing
more flexibility in the manufac-
ture of new chemicals.
For more information, contact:
Mary Cushmac, (202) 260-4443.
A joint voluntary partnership
between OPPT and other federal
agencies and industry was
formed to implement an indus-
try-wide product stewardship
program that would lead to safer
coatings and would improve the
use of respiratory protection and
other worker protection mea-
sures during automotive refin-
ishing operations.
EPA is working with the
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) and other partners to
develop and implement the pro-
posed product stewardship pro-
.gram for this industry. EPA has
developed product stewardship
requirements under TSCA for
new chemical coatings which are
less toxic than existing coatings.
Coatings manufacturers have
begun to reformulate their prod-
ucts so they release smaller
amounts of volatile organic com-
pounds, as required by the Clean
Air Act. The automotive refinish
industry, in response to antici-
pated EPA and state require-
ments for safer products, is
adapting to new practices, more
efficient equipment, and new
products.
There are two broad goals for
this proposed effort: 1) promote
risk reduction by improving the
appropriate use of respiratory
protection and encouraging
effective and efficient use of
innovative technology and engi-
neering controls, and 2) promote
risk reduction by integrating
ongoing industry reformulation
efforts to develop safer coatings
with improvements in worker
protection measures during
application of coatings. The pro-
ject is intended to be a pilot effort
serving as a model for other new
chemical use categories with
overall risk reduction potential.
Another important aspect of the
proposed partnership includes
identifying barriers to, and
incentives for, risk reduction in
the automotive refinish industry.
The proposed industry-wide
product stewardship program
will also help to distribute the
costs of risk reduction more
equitably across the industry.
For more information, contact:
Scott Prothero, (202) 260-1566.
1996 Annual Report
29
-------
Risk Assessment Tools:
OPPT and Kodak
Siloxane Product
Stewardship Program:
Memorandum of
Understanding
OPPT has developed methods
for assessing the risks of haz-
ardous chemicals for which there
are little or no data. With this
added perspective, industries
can make more informed and
independent decisions about
their chemicals.
OPPT's innovative risk assess-
ment methods were put to the
test with the Eastman Kodak
Company. Kodak and EPA inde-
pendently evaluated the same
five chemicals. This demonstrat-
ed that OPPT's technical meth-
ods could be effectively trans-
ferred and used by others.
Kodak then used the tools to
evaluate pollution prevention
opportunities associated with a
new synthetic pathway and to
identify safer substitutes for a
photographic development solu-
tion. Kodak found the tools to be
extremely useful in their day-to-
day operations, noting that, "by
applying the methods early in
Dow Corning has agreed to
voluntarily develop and imple-
ment a comprehensive Product
Stewardship/Testing Program
involving animal toxicity testing
and exposure monitoring for six
siloxanes.
On April 9, 1996, OPPT and
Dow Corning signed a formal
Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) under which the compa-
ny agreed voluntarily to develop
and implement a comprehensive
Product Stewardship/Testing
Program. Under the MOU, Dow
Corning will conduct a $30 mil-
lion animal toxicity testing and
exposure monitoring program
for six siloxanes. These chemi-
cals represent a broad class of
the development cycle, we were
able to avoid unnecessary
expenditures on product formu-
lations for which appropriate
alternatives were available or
could be developed."
In FY97, EPA Region 9 will
play a lead role in transferring
OPPT methodologies to other
companies, states, etc. If success-
ful, OPPT plans to involve all ten
Regions in FY98. Furthermore,
in FY97, OPPT is planning to
develop a P2 Assessment
Framework. The Framework
will make broadly available the
basic assessment methods that
were transferred to Kodak. The
FY97 collaboration with Region 9
will include an evaluation of the
utility of the Framework to other
program activities within Region
9. For more information, contact:
BiU Waugh, (202) 260-3442, Don
Rodier, (202) 260-1276, or
Josephine Chien, Region 9, (415)
744-2419.
siloxanes used widely in indus-
trial and consumer products.
The testing program includes
development of health effects
data for the following end-
points: metabolism/pharmaco-
kinetics; immunotoxicity; suba-
cute and subchronic toxicity;
neurotoxicity; reproductive and
developmental toxicity; chronic
toxicity; and oncogenicity.
Dow Corning also agreed to
voluntarily develop and imple-
ment: 1) comprehensive work-
er/customer communication,
feedback, and safety training
activities including revisions as
needed to Material Safety Data
Sheets, product labels and litera-
ture, and 2) exposure monitoring
30
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
and reduction activities including
?he submission of periodic
teporto to EPA to document oonr
Zing progress. Thete^nS-
gram alone is expected to take me
least 5 to 6 years to
to
gram as well as the other product
ftewardship activities throughout
the entire course of the MOD.
SecLnicals covered under th*
agreement were recommended
testing b the TSCA
and make public the
the siloxane testing pro-
more
t
information, contact.
TSCA Section 4
Data Receipt
can
Under Section 4 of TSCA EPA
m require industry to test
chemicals and to subn}£ * ®
results of that testing to hi A tor
review and public dissemina-
tion. These data promote public
understanding of the risks o
chemicals and facilitate public
involvement in environmental
decision-making.
During FY96,40 TSCASection
4 studief on 10 chemicals were
"eceLdandplacedinthe public
docket. Currently about 3UU
chemicals are undergoing a vari-
ety of health and/or environ-
mental effects studies rn OPP1 s
Chemical Testing Program.
Testing actions to develop
needed data are underway on
another 200 chemicals. As stud
ies are completed they are sub-
mitted to EPA for review and to
S* public docket to ensure
mediate access by interested
parties. In order to ensure sound
Sence, all studies conducted
under TSCA Section 4 are per-
toed in accordance with estab-
Ushed test methodologies wiA
strict adherence to Good
Laboratory Practice" regulation^
OPPT has begun discussions; with
industry on electronic submis-
sions to facilitate reporting and
reduce compliance costs For
more information, contact. Dave
Williams, (202) 260-3468.
TSCA Section 4 Enforceable
Consent Agreements
f^-,^"1^ —
The following chemicals are
produced in high volumes,and
Sere is substantial human expo-
sure to them OPPT has obtained
oTmitiated Enforceable Consent
Agreement (EGA) actions which
w!l result in a wide variety of
human health and envrronmen-
Sxicity studies These Ci-
ties are tied to efforts in OH l,
Office of Air and Radiation
Office of Research and
Development and the Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
During FY96, OPPT:
• Finalized negotiated Enforce-
able Consent Agreements on:
Phenol, a high production vol-
ume solvent and base stock
The ECA is with 14 producers/
Importers and will result m a
comprehensive health effects
testing program for this Clean
Air &Act "Hazardous Air
Pollutant." For more informa-
tion, contact: Keith Cronm, (202)
A- Glyelicyl Bhen>
1996 Annual Report
-------
MI this high production vol-
cnemical used in commer
cial epoxy resin products. For
more information, contact: Keith
Cromn, (202) 260-8157.
•Initiated Development of
Enforceable Consent Agree-
ments to obtain health effects
data on:
1)2-bis(2J
ene chloride in
(202)260-2134
Twelve Aryl Phosphate base
stocks high production volume
materials used primarily as plS!
h^2ersT.ln Polymers andP in
hydraulic fluids and high pres
sure lubricants. For mofe £or-
Leukroth-
- ,H, mint." in iate 19g9 ,
ScTfes JnatedTv C°mmittee
in the brominated flame^etar-
dant chemical category for test-
mg for chemical fate, health and
environmental effects. In 1991,
OPPT published a Notice of
Pr°P°sed Remaking, and in
decided to proceed with an
Hexamethylene Dilsocyanate
(HDD, a high production
cal used in coatings and
m, (202) 260-8157.
Issued TSCA Section 4
Proposed Test Rules on:
' manufac-
only by the Great Lakes
Chemical Corporation. The
remaning four chemicals will be
tested fet in the s be
Information Data Set (SIDS?
greening program ^ ^
UhCD. For more information
John
heaf « c°™prehensive
nealth effects testing to support
ongoing efforts of EPA's Office
Three DiBasic Esters used as
solvent substitutes for methy"!
Delves
Hical studies. During FY96,
UPPT also initiated EGAs (e e
for pharmacokinetics) on a num-
ber of these HAPs. FormoTe
information, contact: R?ch
Leukroth, (202) 260-0321 and
John Harris, (202) 260-8154
TSCA Section 8(a) Under Sections 8(a) and 8(d) of
and Section 8(d) *£***Substances Control[Act
information Gathering ™ .the auth^ity to require'
RUIP? onTameS fo SUbmlt inf°rmation
KUies on exposure and health and safe-
i—•=—i tv. rocT-io/-i«.:,—1__ 1-™ . . - "«•".«-
- o promotes public
understanding of the ris^s of
chemicals and encourages public
mvolvement in envirlnmental
deasion making through devel-
opnient and dissemination of
^formation on toxic chemicals.
°PPT uses the information
gathering authorities in TSCA to
respond primarily to testing rec-
ommendations of the TScl
.r^esrequir-
chemical producers
importers, and processors to
submit exposure information
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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Use and Exposure
Information Project
and unpublished health and
safety information for review by
the Federal agencies which are
members of the ITC. All non-
confidential data are made avail-
able to the public. Based on this
information, the ITC may
request EPA to require addition-
al testing of a given chemical. In
FY96, OPPT required companies
to submit information on more
than 50 chemicals using these
authorities. In addition, OPPT is
considering possible revisions to
TSCA Section 8(d) reporting
requirements to reduce indus-
try's reporting burden and facili-
tate public access to the data.
For more information, contact:
Dave Williams, (202) 260-3468.
ing useful exposure data, and
OPPT has benefited from help-
ing industry understand how its
data are used to assess and
reduce risk.
This project represents the
first time that industry has vol-
untarily agreed to provide OPPT
with detailed data on produc-
tion, releases, uses, and worker
exposure associated with specif-
ic chemicals. This joint effort
provides use and exposure infor-
mation not readily available to
OPPT in any other way. Two
rounds of data collection
occurred in 1994. and 1995
encompassing 31 chemicals. The
ongoing third round, begun in
June, 1996, involves 15 addition-
al chemicals. EPA uses these
data to improve its risk screen-
ing, risk assessment, and risk
management activities. Because
industry reviews OPPT's use of
these data in estimating expo-
sure and risk, OPPT is obtaining
useful feedback on how to
improve its exposure assess-
ments. Industry benefits from
understanding EPA's methodol-
ogy and providing input. The
innovativeness and success of
this voluntary project garnered a
prestigious Vice-Presidential
Hammer Award, given to pro-
jects that help the government
work better and cost less. For
more information, contact: Greg
Macek, (202) 260-9597.
1996 Annual Report
33
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Promoting Risk Reduction
Promote the reduction of risks, particularly due to exposure, and encourage responsible risk manage-
ment practices throughout the life cycle of major chemicals of concern.
Chicago Cumulative
Risk Initiative
A petition from 11 Community
Advocacy Groups set in motion a
project to develop and test a
more responsive, community-
based, pollution prevention-type
approach for dealing with cumu-
lative risk from dioxins, furans,
mercury, cadmium, and lead.
In February 1996, OPPT
received a petition requesting
that EPA regulate the disposal of
dioxins, furans, mercury, cadmi-
um, and lead through air deposi-
tion from eight incinerators slat-
ed to begin operating in Cook
County, Illinois and Lake County,
Indiana. While the petition itself
was denied and subsequently
withdrawn, OPPT felt that there
were significant concerns with
national environmental justice
implications associated with this
issue. An OPPT workgroup rec-
ommended that the Agency and
the petitioners cooperate in a
project to address cumulative
environmental loading (the
effects and risks in an area which
is subject to several pollutants).
At the end of FY96, OPPT had
initiated contracts to create a
cumulative environmental load-
ing profile (identifying the vari-
ous chemicals to which residents
are exposed) for the metropolitan
Chicago area, and to convene a
workshop to develop ways to use
this profile. Both of these activi-
ties were scheduled for comple-
tion by March, 1997. Next steps
are to apply the Science Policy
Council's cumulative risk matrix,
a tool for evaluating the com-
bined impact of exposure to sev-
eral chemicals at once, and to
work on minimizing the pollu-
tion and initiating remediation.
For more information, contact:
James Boles, (202) 260-3969.
Dioxin/Furan
Test Rule
OPPT became concerned that
certain chemical products might
be contaminated with polyhalo-
genated dioxins and/or furans,
chemicals with known health
risks. A TSCA Section 4 test rule
was issuqd in 1987 to determine
whether contamination was
occurring so that further action
could be taken if necessary.
There is potential for certain
chemical products to be contam-
inated by polyhalogenated
dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-
furans (D/F). Because of this,
OPPT is concerned that the pro-
duction, processing, distribution,
use, and disposal of certain
chemicals may present an unrea-
sonable risk of injury to human
health and the environment. To
obtain additional information on
the presence of these impurities,
EPA issued a rule (40 CFR Part
766 on June 5, 1987) covering a
number of chemicals identified
as having the greatest potential
of being contaminated with D/F.
The final rule requires each com-
pany that manufactures or
34
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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Land Application of Sludge
from Pulp and Paper IViills
Lead Programs
imports a chemical listed in the
rule to develop and submit an
analytical protocol and sampling
plan for EPA approval, and to
analyze samples for EPA review.
EPA's data review and further
actions based on those reviews
are guided by a 1988 Consent
Decree between EPA, the
National Wildlife Federation and
the Environmental Defense
Fund. This rule has generated
valuable exposure data that have
been used by other OPPT pro-
grams. One outcome was the
development of a significant
new use rule to inhibit the rein-
troduction of a high dioxin-con-
taining chloranil. For more
information, contact: Todd
Holderman, (202) 260-6917.
The American Forest and
Paper Association agreed to vol-
untarily reduce the risk posed
by dioxins and furans in pulp
and paper mill sludge disposed
of on land.
The goal of this project is to
reduce the amounts of dioxins
and furans that are present-in
sludge from pulp and paper
mills if the sludge is being
applied to land. In 1994, the
American Forest and Paper
Association, and the mills it rep-
resents, voluntarily agreed to
undertake risk reduction activi-
ties. The agreement establishes
standards and management
practices for those facilities that
apply the contaminated sludge
to land. A survey of mills con-
ducted by the American Forest
and Paper Association in 1996
indicated that the overwhelming
majority had reduced the
amounts of dioxins and furans in
sludge to the amount specified
in the agreement. For more
information, contact: Joseph
Schechter, (202) 260-1540.
Lead exposure can produce
serious health effects, particular-
ly in children. OPPT works to
reduce exposure to this chemical
through education, right-to-
know, and use of sound science
principles.
Years of using leaded gasoline
and lead based paint have
spread this chemical liberally
throughout our environment,
with sometimes devastating
results. Overexposure of chil-
dren can result in lead poison-
ing, with symptoms such as IQ
deficiencies, reading and learn-
ing disabilities, impaired hear-
ing, reduced attention spans,
hyperactivity, anti-social behav-
ior, and other problems.
Children are most susceptible to
lead poisoning, and despite cur-
rent controls on the use of lead,
as many as 1.7 million children
age five and under may be affect-
ed by lead already in the envi-
ronment. OPPT works to reduce
exposure to this chemical, and
thus reduce the risk of lead poi-
soning. The following nine pro-
jects describe current activities
within the Lead Program.
Additional Analysis of the
XRF/Test Kit Study
Being able to accurately deter-
mine the lead content of paint,
1996 Annual Report
35
-------
soil, and other materials is criti-
cal to effective remediation. EPA
wanted more information on
how certain field measurements
of lead compared to laboratory
analysis methods, and conduct-
ed a field evaluation survey.
Technical bulletins will be pub-
lished to address some issues not
already covered in previous
reports.
To determine the accuracy of
field methods for lead testing,
OPPT conducted a field evalua-
tion study which compared
portable X-Ray Florescence (XRF
— portable electric instruments
which test the amount of lead in
a painted surface) and lead test
kits to laboratory analysis meth-
ods. OPPT has completed drafts
of-three supplementary bulletins
to provide details of its findings:
• Sources of Variation in Lead in
Paint Measurements will
describe the amount of varia-
tion in measurements of lead
to determine the magnitude as
well as the sources of varia-
tion.
• XRF Performance Relative To a
0.7 mg/cm2 Lead Standard will
describe whether the XRF
instruments can be used to
ascertain the presence or
absence of lead relative to a 0.7
mg/cm2 lead standard, and
• Analysis of Reading Times will
report on whether the reading
times of each individual
portable XRF instrument has
an effect on the reliability and
the accuracy of the measure-
ments made by that instru-
ment. When these bulletins
are finalized in the first half of
1997, they will be available
through the National Lead
Information Center Clearing
house (1-800-424-LEAD). For
more information, contact:
John Schwemberger, (202) 260-
7195.
Community-Based Lead
Abatement Demonstration
Project
Elevated blood lead levels are
more common in poor, minority
children than in more affluent
populations. OPPT is con-
cerned about this, and has initi-
ated a demonstration project
aimed at: reducing lead poison-
ing in poor children; creating a
proven, reproducible program
to reduce blood lead levels; and
obtaining feedback on how to
coordinate and improve indi-
vidual programs
In 1993, OPPT formed an
interagency workgroup to test a
community-based approach for-
mulated by the participants for
preventing childhood lead poi-
soning. Philadelphia received a
non-competitive grant in 1994
from EPA and the Department of
Health and Human Services. In
1995, competitive grants were
awarded to five local govern-
ment-community advocacy
group partnerships.
The goals of this initiative are
to: 1) demonstrate that an effec-
tive, well-planned program can
serve to significantly reduce
poor children's blood lead levels,
2) demonstrate the utility and
beneficial nature of public, pri-
vate, and community coopera-
tion in the prevention of child-
hood lead poisoning, 3) accom-
plish specific primary and sec-
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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ondary lead poisoning preven-
tion tasks: blood lead screening,
hazard reduction, and education,
4) assess and document the pro-
ject's success and shortcomings
by providing for careful evalua-
tion and data collection, and 5)
foster community self-sufficien-
cy through jobs creation and
empowerment. For more infor-
mation, contact: James Boles,
(202) 260-3969.
Coordinating Lead Activities
Across the Federal Government
EPA is not the only federal
agency with a lead program;
approximately 20 federal organi-
zations have an interest in this
problem. OPPT is coordinating
efforts to plan and implement a
unified and consistent federal
lead program.
Coordination of the federal
lead program has been done pri-
marily through the Federal
Interagency Lead-Based Paint
Task Force. EPA and the
Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) are
the co-chairs of this task force,
which was established in 1989.
The task force is comprised of
participants from approximately
20 federal departments or agen-
cies with a mailing list of nearly
120 names. The task force meets
every six to eight weeks in
Washington, DC.
In addition to actively manag-
ing this group, including serving
as executive secretary, in 1996
OPPT worked with the
Department of Defense to ensure
that its programs were consistent
with EPA's regulations and
goals. OPPT also provided input
to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
on their lead screening policy, to
FTUD on rules dealing with lead
in federally owned housing, and
to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission on an analysis of
lead in playground soil. 1996
also saw the completion of the
first draft of the Tri-Agency
(EPA, CDC, HUD) five-year
progress report/vision state-
ment on lead, incorporating
ideas from other agencies. For
more information, contact: Karen
Maher, (202) 260-3894.
Distribution of Soil Lead
in the Nation's Housing
EPA examined soil informa-
tion obtained from a lead
survey conducted by HUD to
determine associations between
soil lead levels and: building age,
degree of urbanization, census
region, and the presence and con-
dition of lead-based paint.
In 1990, HUD and EPA jointly
conducted a National Survey of
Lead-Based Paint in Housing,
including information on levels
of lead in paint, dust, and soil. In
1996, OPPT focused specifically
on better characterizing the
extent and magnitude of lead
hazards from soil in the United
States. The results are contained
in the report Distributions of Soil
Lead in the Nation's Housing Stock
which is available through
the Lead Information Center
Clearinghouse (1-800-424-LEAD).
For more information, contact:
Samuel F. Brown, (202) 260-2282.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Identification of Lead-Based
Paint Hazards, Lead-
Contaminated Dust, and Lead-
Contaminated Soil
Childhood lead poisoning is a
preventable disease, but to pre-
vent it effectively, the public and
decision makers need informa-
tion to help evaluate homes and
schools for lead-based paint haz-
ards and develop appropriate
hazard control strategies.
Congress required EPA to
establish regulatory standards
for identifying lead-based paint
hazards, lead-contaminated dust,
and lead-contaminated soil.
OPPT issued interim guidance in
1994 and 1995, and made consid-
erable progress toward develop-
ment of a proposed rule in FY96.
Project staff established and
implemented a Dialogue Process
to obtain input from interested
parties on a range of regulatory
and implementation issues.
Following this process, OPPT
staff identified more than two
dozen policy issues and devel-
oped recommendations to
address the vast majority of
these issues. Throughout FY96,
OPPT also worked to develop a
comprehensive risk assessment
to help support the Agency's
regulatory decisions on lead.
OPPT has worked closely with
EPA's Office of Emergency
Remedial Response in light of
the Superfund Program's inter-
est in lead in soil. For more
information, contact: Jonathan
Jacobson, (202) 260-3779.
International Lead Program
Many international organiza-
tions address lead hazards and
exposures, and OPPT works to
help other countries further their
programs.
The international lead pro-
gram is an ongoing effort to
work on lead risk reduction
globally. Most countries are
focused on reducing the use of
leaded gasoline, yet this is only
one of many potential sources of
lead exposure. In order to fur-
ther other countries' goals to
effectively reduce exposures to
lead, for example, OPPT is coor-
dinating with the Pan-American
Health Organization (PAHO) to
start a lead inventory project in
Brazil. The lead inventory pro-
ject will identify lead hazards
and develop an action plan for
addressing these hazards. Once
the initial inventory is complete,
methods used to identify lead
hazards may be shared with
other countries interested in
identifying and reducing lead
hazard risks in order that they
may develop an action plan. This
project will promote information
sharing on progressive technolo-
gies and alternatives to reduce
lead hazard risks.
Another important interna-
tional lead effort OPPT is
involved in is work with the
Organization for Economic Co-
operation and Development
(OECD). OPPT's participation
was vital in encouraging OECD
to adopt a Council Resolution
and Ministerial Declaration on
Risk Reduction. The document
specifically addressed lead haz-
ards of concern including lead in
gasoline, children's products,
ceramic ware, and drinking
water. Industry agreed to volun-
tarily develop an action plan to
further the risk reduction goal.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
OPPT is working to get countries
which are not members of the
OECD to agree to this document
on risk reduction through
the Intergovernmental Forum
on Chemical Safety. The
International Lead Management
Council which represents the
lead industry is developing
industry's voluntary risk reduc-
tion plan to help the internation-
al effort on lead. For more infor-
mation, contact: Tova Spector,
(202) 260-3467.
National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES)
OPPT has the opportunity to
obtain valuable information on
children's exposure to lead in
homes through a survey which
will be conducted by the
National Center for Health
Statistics. EPA has set up a work-
group to coordinate input into
this survey.
The National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) is currently
planning the eighth in a series
of surveys conducted since
I960, known as NHANES, the
National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey. NCHS con-
tacted EPA to request input for
this survey. EPA's Office of
Research and Development is
leading an Agency workgroup to
coordinate the Agency's input.
OPPT has requested that the sur-
vey include questions on chil-
dren's behavior patterns and the
presence and condition of lead
paint in the house. Results will be
correlated with measurements of
children's blood lead levels and
with environmental measure-
ments of lead in house dust. The
workgroup was scheduled to
send the final version of the pro-
posal to NCHS in January 1997.
For more information, contact:
Susan Dillman, (202) 260-5375.
National Lead Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NLLAP)
It is important for homeowners
and other concerned people to be
able to accurately determine
whether their residence or work-
place contains lead. In response
to this need, OPPT maintains the
National Lead Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NLLAP)
to assure homeowners that labo-
ratory analyses are conducted
properly.
NLLAP recognizes laborato-
ries which have demonstrated
they are capable of accurately
analyzing for lead in dust, soil,
and paint chip samples.
Laboratories recognized by EPA
through this program are placed
on a list which is updated month-
ly and made available to the pub-
he. All laboratories recognized by
this accreditation program are
required to undergo on-site
audits and to perform successful-
ly in a quarterly sample testing
program. During FY96, the pro-
gram recognized 21 additional
laboratories, increasing the total
number to 100. Another 50 labo-
ratories are in the process of
obtaining accreditation. Several
states require the use of accredit-
ed laboratories for testing for
environmental lead.
It is anticipated that in FY97,
the program will be modified in
order to acknowledge laborato-
ries which can conduct analyses
solely in the field (field-operation
laboratories). In addition,
increased performance-based
1996 Annual Report
-------
standards will be used for train-
ing laboratory analysts and tech-
nicians. Contact the National
Lead Information Center (1-800-
424-LEAD) to request a copy of
the list of accreditated laborato-
ries. For more information, con-
tact: John Scalera, (202) 260-6709.
Task Force on Mercury
Offices across EPA have an
interest in mercury, and an
Agency task force was estab-
lished so that programs through-
out EPA could share information
and promote mercury risk man-
agement actions.
The Agency Mercury Task
Force was formed to provide a
cross-agency forum where pro-
gram offices could share infor-
mation on mercury activities on
a regular basis and to promote
mercury risk management
actions. The task force is chaired
by OPPTS, Region 5, and the
Office of Water. Initially formed
in 1994 to develop a coordinated
response to the Department of
Defense's holdings of 11 million
pounds of surplus mercury, the
mission of the task force has
expanded to include developing
a comprehensive mercury strate-
gy. Thus far, the task force has
developed an Agency position
on the Department of Defense's
stockpile sales; identified the
need to investigate protective
mercury stabilization technolo-
gies for high concentration mer-
cury wastes; raised awareness
that a multi-media approach is
necessary with mercury issues;
and developed a regular
Agency-wide forum for informa-
tion exchange. The task force has
also been instrumental in adding
mercury to the agendas of sever-
al international forums. For
more information, contact:
Melinda Pearce, (202) 260-3397.
Training for Lead-Based Paint
Abatement Activities
Safe removal of lead-based
paint requires a professional
who knows how to evaluate and
remove the hazard without
worsening the problem. To
ensure that homeowners and
others who need these services
can locate trained professionals,
EPA issued rules on the training
and certification of lead-based
paint inspectors and abatement
professionals.
In August 1996, the final lead-
based paint activities rule was
promulgated, as mandated by
the 1992 Residential Lead-based
Paint Hazard Reduction Act
(Sections 402 and 404). This rule
contains several key features: 1)
training and certification require-
ments to ensure the proficiency
of contractors who conduct lead-
based paint inspections, risk
assessments, and abatements in
residences and day care centers,
2) accreditation requirements to
ensure that training programs
provide quality instruction, 3)
work practice standards to
ensure that lead-based paint
activities are conducted safely,
reliably, and effectively, and 4)
procedures for states and tribes
to apply to EPA for authorization
to set up their own accreditation
programs. States and tribes have
two years to apply. After two
years, EPA will administer the
above program in any remaining
states and tribal areas. Over the
next two years the Agency will
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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PCB Disposal
Amendments
PCB Import for Disposal
Rule, Transboundary
Considerations
PCB International,
North American Regional
Action Plan
be working, through Regional
offices and the Forum on State
and Tribal Toxics Action, to help
states and tribes develop pro-
grams that will meet with EPA
approval. For more information,
contact: Mark Henshall, (202)
260-5089.
e:
Polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) are mixtures of a certain
class of carcinogenic synthetic
organic chemicals which are reg-
ulated by OPPT and other federal
agencies. The disposal amend-
ments streamline existing PCB
regulations to reduce costs to the
regulated community and imple-
ment the program based on risk,
where possible.
This rulemaking represents
the first comprehensive review
of the 16-year-old program for
disposal of PCBs. The new rules
will provide options and flexibil-
ity for implementation. They
will lower costs to the regulated
community, reduce duplicative
requirements, harmonize dispos-
al standards with other federal
programs, and change or remove
outdated requirements. The
Notice of Final Rulemaking is
expected to be published in 1997.
For more information, contact:
Tony Baney, (202) 260-3933.
To lessen the chances for mis-
management of PCB wastes,
OPPT published a rule which
harmonizes the transboundary
requirements for PCBs with all
other hazardous wastes and
allows for the import and dis-
posal of PCBs in the United
States.
This rule covers the import of
PCBs for disposal and allows for
reduced requirements on sam-
ples imported for testing and
treatability studies, PCBs being'
returned from U.S. government
facilities in foreign countries, and
of PCBs being moved into the
continental United States from
other States and territories. The
Notice of Final Rulemaking was
published on March 18, 1996.
EPA's Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance has
responsibility for implementing
the program, such as receiving,
processing and approving
import requests. OPPT helps
interpret the regulations and
develop guidance. Import of
PCBs for disposal is now man-
aged similarly to other wastes
subject to EPA requirements. For
more information, contact: Peter
Gimlin, (202) 260-3972.
The United States is committed
to the principle of sound manage-
ment of chemicals. Developing
and implementing national,
regional and international proto-
cols can reduce or eliminate expo-
sure from persistent organic pol-
lutants such as PCBs.
When chemicals which persist
in the environment and bioaccu-
mulate are not properly managed
throughout their life cycle, they
can be transported aerially over
long distances and present health
and environmental risks far from
the country where they were used
1996 Annual Report
-------
Refractory
Ceramic Fibers
or disposed of. PCBs are one such
chemical. Regional (e.g., North
American Commission for
Environmental Cooperation),
semi-global (e.g., United Nations
Economic Commission for
Europe) and global organizations
(e.g., the United Nations
Environment Programme) are
each developing plans or proto-
cols for the sound management of
PCBs. Each program has com-
mon elements including controls
on manufacture, processing, dis-
tribution in commerce, use, and
disposal. OPPT's participation is
essential to ensure consistency
across programs.
The PCB Regional Action Plan
for North America has been draft-
ed, released for public comment,
and will be signed by the environ-
mental ministers from Canada,
Mexico and the U.S. in 1997.
Action plans and binding proto-
cols are in various stages of devel-
opment. Many other federal pol-
lution control programs also regu-
late PCBs. Actions and standards
agreed to in Regional Action
Plans or binding global protocols
would apply to all programs reg-
ulating PCBs. For more informa-
tion, contact: Denise Wright, (202)
260-2351.
Refractory ceramic fibers are a
probable human carcinogen, and
are used in industrial settings
where they could pose a hazard
to workers. The Refractory
Ceramic Fiber Coalition agreed
to gather worker exposure infor-
mation over a five-year period so
EPA can determine whether pro-
tective action is required.
Refractory ceramic fibers
(RCFs) are manmade fibers pro-
duced from the melting and
blowing or spinning of kaolin
clay or alumina and silica. They
are used primarily for high tem-
perature industrial insulation
applications, most frequently as
a lining in high temperature fur-
naces, heaters and kilns. RCFs
are also used in the aerospace
and automotive industries, and
in certain commercial and con-
sumer applications, such as gas
fireplace logs. Based on evi-
dence from animal studies, EPA
has classified RCFs as a probable
human carcinogen.
In 1993, EPA and the
Refractory Ceramic Fiber
Coalition entered into a five-year
workplace monitoring agree-
ment to gather more information
on the magnitude of exposure to
workers. In 1996 the RCF
Coalition completed the third of
five years of worker exposure
monitoring. The data show con-
tinued reductions in most areas,
which was confirmed by EPA.
The RCF Coalition's aggressive
product stewardship program is
an important factor in the
decreasing exposures. Once all
data has been collected, EPA
will work with the , Occupat-
ional Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) and the
National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) to determine whether
or not RCFs present an unrea-
sonable risk to human health
and the environment. For more
information, contact: Sam
Brown, (202) 260-2282 or Cindy
Fournier, (202) 260-1537.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
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Synthetic Mineral Fibers:
Interagency Workgroup
Whole House Initiative
Offices across the federal gov-
ernment engage in managing
risks from synthetic mineral fibers
management.
To coordinate synthetic mineral
fibers management activities, an
interagency workgroup was
established. The Interagency
Synthetic Mineral Fibers
Workgroup was formed to pro-
vide an interagency forum where
the federal government could
share information on a regular
basis and promote synthetic min-
eral fibers management actions.
The workgroup is chaired by
OPPTS, and has participation
from the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration
(OSHA), the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH), the Consumer
Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), and the National
Institute for Standards and
Technology (NIST). For more
information, contact: Melinda
Pearce, (202) 260-3397.
OPPT is spearheading an
EPA-wide effort to take a com-
prehensive look at all types of
indoor and outdoor pollution in
disenfranchised and disadvan-
taged communities. The goals
of the project are to reduce over-
all exposure to pollutants,
ensure that mitigation of indoor
pollutants is comprehensive,
create economic opportunities
in communities, and demon-
strate a federal/state/local
coordinated approach to envi-
ronmental hazards.
This initiative includes train-
ing people to inspect a home for
selected environmental hazards.
In 1996, a draft of the first train-
ing module, on basic environ-
mental inspection was produced.
In addition, Agency data related
to lead were assembled so that
communities could more easily
choose those lead risk manage-
ment activities most suited for
their communities. This initia-
tive began in 1994 with OPPT's
formation of a workgroup with
members from the Department
of Housing and Urban
Development; the Administra-
tion for Children and Families
(Department of Health
and Human Services); the
Centers for Disease Control;
the Department of Energy;
and EPA's Offices of Small
and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization, Air and Radiation,
and Enforcement and Compli-
ance Assurance. This group
cooperated in applying
a multimedia Geographic Infor-
mation Systems (GIS) database
and creating an integrated, mul-
timedia environmental inspec-
tion training program.
A grant was awarded to
Cleveland, Ohio to field test both
the data and training. This project
is targeted at: 1) enabling parties
to reduce multimedia exposures
to unhealthful levels of pollution
both inside and outside the home
in disenfranchised and disadvan-
taged communities; 2) ensuring
that mitigation of hazardous
1996 Annual Report
43
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exposure in the home is compre-
hensive and addresses lead,
asbestos, weatherization (e.g.,
window replacement), indoor air
quality and radon exposure
issues; 3) building capacity and
economic opportunities in target-
ed communities through creating
or strengthening an infrastruc-
ture that provides community
access to state agencies responsi-
ble for reducing environmental
exposures; and 4) demonstrating
how the federal government and
state/local counterparts can pro-
vide a comprehensive and coor-
dinated response to potential
hazards in targeted communities.
For more information, contact:
James Boles, (202) 260-3969.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Promoting Public Understanding of Risks
e
Promote public understanding of the risks of chemicals and public involvement in environmental deci-
sion making through the development and dissemination of information on toxic chemicals.
Aqueous Solvents
Hazard Guide
Brochure on
Lead Testing
Chemical Fact Sheets
Many industries are switching
from halogenated solvents to
aqueous and semi-aqueous
products for metal cleaning.
The purpose of this aqueous
solvents hazard guide is to
inform companies about the
environmental effects of the
aqueous and semi-aqueous
products so they can choose the
most environmentally safe sol-
vent that satisfies their precise
need. The guide, completed in
September, 1996, rates products
qualitatively for ecological toxic-
ity and for environmental persis-
tence. It is in the form of a wall
chart, 17 1A inches by 11 inches.
Copies may be obtained by call-
ing the TSCA Hotline at (202)
554-1404. For more information,
contact: Joseph Schechter, (202)
260-1540.
Work is underway to publish a
brochure on "Testing Your
Residence for Lead in Paint, Dust,
and Soil" which will update and
replace 1993 fact sheets on Lead
Testing and Test Kits.
The upcoming brochure will
provide citizens with technical
guidance on recent regulations
which deal with the accredita-
tion of lead inspection and
removal professionals; describe
homeowner notification provi-
sions; encourage residents to test
their homes for lead (for homes
built before 1978); and describe
some of the basic elements of test-
ing. A draft of the brochure is
ready for peer review, including
review by all EPA Regional Lead
Coordinators. The final brochure
will be available through the
National Lead Information Center
Clearinghouse (1-800-424-LEAD)
and through the EPA lead home
page (http://www.epa.gov/
opptintr/lead/index.html). For
more information, contact: John
Schwemberger, (202) 260-7195.
OPPT has a wealth of informa-
tion on individual chemicals
which is useful to the public. To
make this information easily
accessible and understandable,
OPPT has initiated an ongoing
effort to summarize, review, and
publish fact sheets on individual
chemicals.
OPPT's chemical fact sheets
summarize assessment informa-
tion on chemicals in commerce
and are written so that the public
can easily understand the infor-
mation presented. They contain
OPPT's conclusions on produc-
tion volume, uses, releases to
and fate in the environment,
human health and environmen-
tal hazard potential, and regula-
tory status within the federal
government. As such, they draw
1996 Annual Report
45
o
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Chemicals on
Reporting Rules
(CORR)
from the technical expertise of
each division within OPPT. All
fact sheets undergo a rigorous
review before the Office makes
them available to the public by
distribution on the Internet
(http://www.epa.gov/chem-
fact) and through the chemical
desk (202-260-3998). The fact
sheet effort began as a pilot pro-
ject in FY95. A focus group led
by OPPT and consisting of repre-
sentatives from industry, envi-
ronmental groups, labor, and
EPA regional offices determined
the information and level of
detail the fact sheets would
contain.
The first 20 fact sheets were
completed as a part of this pilot
effort, and were published on the
Internet in FY96. Monitoring this
site during the first few months
showed 4,000 "hits" per month,
many from Eastern Europe. The
Office also reviewed and com-
mented on 20 additional fact
sheets during FY96 and is in the
process of publishing these on
the Internet. OPPT has an addi-
tional 50 fact sheets in various
stages of completion and esti-
mates that these will be available
for Internet distribution by the
end of FY97. The fact sheet pro-
ject is streamlining its efforts to
collect, summarize, and review
Office assessment information as
part of the Office's electronic
office initiative, which should
speed up the process of complet-
ing additional fact sheets. For
more information, contact:
Richard.Wormell, (202) 260-3493.
"How is a chemical regulated
under TSCA?" This frequently-
posed question can be quickly
answered by searching the
Chemicals On Reporting Rules
(CORR) CHEMICAL file to find
the chemical name, Chemical
Abstract Service number,
Premanufacture Notice number,
and the TSCA sections which
apply. The CHEMICAL file also
contains corresponding Federal
Register citations. A separate
FEDREG file contains sum-
maries of those final and pro-
posed rules published in the
Federal Register cited in the
CHEMICAL file.
The CORR database contains
information on chemicals, regu-
lated under several sections of
TSCA, and the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-
to-Know Act (EPCRA) section
313, that have been the subject of
proposed or final regulations
issued by OPPT in the Federal
Register. Chemicals subject to
TSCA section 5(e) consent orders
are also covered. The database is
updated quarterly in January,
April, July, and October. It is
available from the TSCA Hotline,
(202) 554-1404 on diskette,
through the Internet (http:
//www.epa.gov/docs/CORR),
and through RTK-Net. For more
information, contact: Jim
Bradshaw, (202) 260-1543.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Community Environmental
Partnership Project:
Baltimore, MD
Confidential Business
Information:
State Access
Local, state and federal gov-
ernments have joined forces to
develop a partnership with local
neighborhoods and businesses
to pilot a community-based
approach to environmental pro-
tection in South Baltimore.
This pilot project is designed
to bring together neighborhood
businesses, residents, and gov-
ernment to make neighborhoods
healthier, cleaner and safer. The
South Baltimore area has envi-
ronmental problems from pollu-
tion and waste from the chemical
plants clustered there, as well as
many housing and health issues.
The neighborhood businesses
and residents of Brooklyn,
Cherry Hill, Curtis Bay, Fairfield,
Wagner's Point and Brooklyn
Park are working together with
government to make their neigh-
borhoods better places to live
and work. In addition to assist-
ing these specific Baltimore com-
munities, OPPT expects to devel-
op a better understanding of the
training and technical analysis
the Office can provide to neigh-
borhoods so they can work
together to address environmen-
tal concerns that impact their
lives directly.
In FY96, OPPT and communi-
ty residents established the
partnership with local business-
es and government, and held
public meetings. The first such
meeting, held in July, 1996,
attracted 170 residents and busi-
nesses and was key to building
support in the communityand
increasing awareness among all
parties. The community dis-
cussed an array of concerns fac-
ing them, decided on a set of
priorities, and established
working committees on
Cleanup of Trash, Illegal
Dumping and Housing; Air
Quality and Transportation;
Human Health Effects; Economic
Development; Water Quality,
Parks, and Natural Resources;
Outreach and Communication;
and a Coordinating Team. For
more information, contact: Hank
Topper, (202) 260-6750.
OPPT collects a large amount
of data under TSCA which is
claimed as confidential by busi-
nesses. A pilot project has found
that it would be beneficial to
allow states access to this data.
The pilot program allowed
Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois and
New York to obtain access to
TSCA data, including confiden-
tial business information, for the
sole purpose of quantifying the
value of the data to state pro-
grams. In late spring, 1996, the
four state reports were complet-
ed and made available to the
public. In early summer, EPA
sought public comment. By
mid-October about 60 comments
had been received, including 32
comments from 28 states.
Preliminary information indi-
cates that TSCA data would be
useful for states when undertak-
ing risk assessments to establish
air and water release permit
standards. The pilot project indi-
cates that the information avail-
able through TSCA is not avail-
able from other sources, and if
made available to states could
provide the basis for regulatory
reform, potentially resulting in
regulatory relief.
1996 Annual Report
47
o
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Consumer Labeling
Initiative
Customer Service
Standards for
Partnership Programs
EPA is still considering the
reports and the comments and
has not yet determined next
appropriate steps. This issue is
not unique to TSCA. OPPT staff
are in contact with personnel
who implement the Federal
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA) and the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to iden-
tify common issues and potential
solutions. For more information,
contact: Scott M. Sherlock, (202)
260-1536.
This project will lead to more
informative product labels, so
that consumers can make
informed choices about the
products they use.
The goals of the Consumer
Labeling Initiative are to foster
pollution prevention, design
product labels so they give con-
sumers the information they
need to make informed choices,
and improve consumer under-
standing of the labels so they can
make informed choices among
products and can use and dis-
pose of chosen products safely
and effectively. The initiative is
focusing on products where it is
especially important that con-
sumers carefully follow label
instructions: indoor insecti-
cides, outdoor pesticides, house-
hold antimicrobial products, and
products for cleaning hard sur-
faces. This is a pilot, multiphase,
partnership project of local, state,
and federal agencies; manufac-
turers of consumer products;
trade associations, public inter-
est groups; market research
experts; and others.
In 1996, the initiative pro-
duced a report, The Consumer
Labeling Initiative Phase I Report,
that included recommendations
for next steps, such as testing
alternative labels to see which
are most effective. The report
also summarized existing
knowledge about what makes
labels effective, including origi-
nal research based on direct con-
tacts with consumers. For more
information, contact: Mary
Dominiak, (202) 260-7768; Julie
Lynch, (202) 260-7768; Steve
Morrill, (703) 308-8319.
As part of the Federal
Government's reinvention effort,
customer service standards were
developed to guide employees in
providing the highest quality
service possible to customers.
OPPT is leading the effort to pro-
duce standards for voluntary
pollution prevention programs.
OPPT is leading a workgroup
consisting of representatives
from across the Agency, includ-
ing Region III, to develop stan-
dards to help EPA provide high
quality service in voluntary pro-
grams such as 33/50, Climate
Wise, WasteWi$e, the Water
Alliances for Voluntary Efficien-
cy, Green Lights, and
the Pesticides Environmental
Stewardship Program. Early
drafts were reviewed by the
Information and Assessments
Committee of the National Advi-
sory Council for Environmental
Policy and Technology and corn-
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
ECOSAR Manual
pany representatives of the
Global Environmental
Management Initiative. Final
standards were agreed upon in
late September 1995. These stan-
dards emphasize professional
courtesy and respect; accurate,
up-to-date, and reliable informa-
tion, products, and services;
responsiveness to inquiries; and
successful referrals.
In FY96, a report
was prepared highlighting the
progress made on the standards
and describing plans for EPA;s
1996 annual customer service
document. In addition, univer-
sal standards have been devel-
oped that apply to all EPA
employees, not just those
employees working with volun-
tary programs. The Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics
is developing a plan to introduce
both sets of standards to OPPT
employees early in 1997. For
more information, contact:
Darlene Harrod, (202) 260-6904.
OPPT uses Structure Activity
Relationships (SAR) to predict
the environmental toxicity of
various chemicals to aquatic
organisms. To share the method-
ology with industry and others,
OPPT has developed a software
program called ECOSAR and an
accompanying manual, which
are regularly updated.
ECOSAR predicts acute and
chronic toxicity of industrial
chemicals to aquatic organisms
without the need to perform
actual tests. The software pro-
gram called ECOSAR depends
on the principle that there
are predictable relationships
between the structure and prop-
erties of chemicals on one hand,
and their toxicity or biological
activity on the other hand. If
researchers know the toxicity of
one or more chemicals in a class
or category, SARs can be used to
predict the toxicity of chemicals
with similar structures. Industry
can use ECOSAR to screen for
environmental toxicity when
seeking safer substitutes for
existing chemicals.
Since 1986, OPPT has pro-
duced one version of ECOSAR
and two versions of the struc-
ture-activity manual. The latest
version of the manual, Estimating
Toxicity of Industrial Chemicals to
Aquatic Organisms Using
Structure Activity Relationships,
(2nd Edition) was published in
1996 (EPA-R-93-001). This man-
ual contains more than 200 struc-
ture activity relationships for 78
chemical classes. A third edition
of the manual and an updated
and more user-friendly version
of ECOSAR are being prepared.
The manual and software may
be obtained from EPA at (513)
569-7562, or from the National
Technical Information Service
(NTIS) at 703-487-4650; NTIS
publication numbers are:
Computer Program PB94-
500485, User's Guide PB94-
104668. For more information,
contact: Gordon Cash, (202)
260-3900.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Facility
Identification Initiative
Forum on State
and Tribal Toxics Action
(FOSTTAj
The Facility Identification
Initiative strives to establish and
maintain data linkages within
EPA systems and to promote
public access to such data
through the development of a
unique identifier and consistent
set of place-based information
for all facilities regulated by EPA.
This initiative was developed
based on recommendations from
a 1994 National Advisory
Council for Environmental
Policy and Technology (NACEPT)
task force report on improving
Agency information resources
management (IRM). That report
recommended establishment of a
key facility identifier and
improved public access to
Agency data on regulated facili-
ties. OPPT proposed the estab-
lishment of the Facility
Identification Initiative in
response to a call for projects to
support high priority govern-
ment reinvention activities. An
Agency-wide workgroup con-
sisting of all major media pro-
grams, regions and state repre-
sentatives was established. The
workgroup will review public
comments and recommend a
mechanism for implementing
the Facility Identification
Initiative.
Further consultation and
agreements will need to be estab-
lished among EPA program
offices regarding necessary
changes to their database struc-
tures to support facility data
linkages. This project works in
partnership with the One-Stop
Reporting Initiative and other
IRM improvement, data stan-
dardization and public access
initiatives. For more informa-
tion, contact: Allan Abramson,
(202) 260-3938.
FOSTTA has forged a commu-
nication network linking states,
tribes, OPPT, and EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance (OECA) on a variety
of toxics-related issues. The
increased communication results
in the development of EPA rules
and policies that are more techni-
cally sound and more easily
implemented.
In an effort to improve com-
munication with the states and
tribes on toxics issues, OPPT and
OECA created FOSTTA in 1991.
Senior state and tribal environ-
mental and health experts meet
three times a year with EPA offi-
cials, including EPA Regions, to
discuss toxics-related issues.
EPA gains an immediate "real
world" state and tribal perspec-
tive on these issues, and the
states and tribes have an oppor-
tunity to enhance information
exchange with EPA and to pro-
vide their input on current
issues.
FOSTTA is active in lead
issues. For example, it is focus-
ing on helping states pass legis-
lation on lead hazard reduction
and is implementing the train-
ing, certification and accredita-
tion rule for lead contractors.
FOSTTA's State and Tribal
Enhancement Project (STEP)
provided EPA with suggestions
on how to integrate EPA's com-
munity-based environmental
projects with ongoing state envi-
ronmental programs. STEP also
commented on the draft
Catalogue of Tools, a listing of
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Homeowner's Guide to
Lead-Based Paint
International Sharing of
Information: Four Corners
Agreement
information and analytical tools
to be used in determining the
characteristics and effects of pes-
ticides and industrial chemicals
on public health and the envi-
ronment.
As part of the activities of
STEP, the National Conference of
State Legislatures (NCSL) pub-
lished the 1996 Directory of State
Toxics. Contacts, which lists 560
state and 24 EPA Regional con-
tacts. FOSTTA was also involved
in the TSCA State Access
to Confidential Business
Information (CBI) Data Project,
concluded in FY96. For more
information, see the home
page for NCSL at http:
/ / www.ncsl.org/programs/esnr/
fostta.htm or contact: Darlene
Harrod, (202) 260-6904.
Homeowners, parents, and
others need to make decisions
about reducing exposure to lead-
based paint hazards. OPPT is
compiling a comprehensive doc-
ument of policies, guidance, and
requirements on reducing risks
from exposure to lead-based
paint to help consumers make
informed choices.
The Homeowner's Guide to Lead-
Based Paint is the result of provi-
sions in Title X of the Residential
Lead-based Paint Hazard
Reduction Act, which requires
EPA to develop a public educa-
tion program for lead-based
paint hazards. In FY96, a draft of
the document was produced
using available identification
and risk reduction methodology,
renovation and remodeling
guidance, health-based stan-
dards guidance, and existing
federal and state regulatory
efforts. In FY97, the draft docu-
ment will be formatted into a
handbook and widely distrib-
uted through the National Lead
Information Center (1-800-424-
LEAD) and other channels. For
more information, contact:
Megan Carroll, (202) 260-7269.
This two-year pilot project is
armed at reducing the time it
takes for U.S.-approved new
industrial chemicals to enter the
Canadian market.
The accord is commonly
called the Four Corners Agree-
ment because it was negotiated
among officials from the U.S.
and Canadian governments and
by representatives from U.S. and
Canadian industry groups. In
1994, at the urging of the U.S.
and Canadian chemical indus-
tries, the two countries initiated
bilateral talks on the issues asso-
ciated with sharing hazard
assessment data on new chemi-
cals evaluated in the U.S. which
were not yet on the Canadian
Domestic Substances List. The
agreement to share hazard data
became effective April 15, 1996.
The agreement could improve
transboundary decision making
on chemicals and could provide
industry with opportunities to
reduce both testing costs and
time-to-market. To date, EPA
has received five notices under
the project. For more informa-
tion, contact: Anna Coutlakis,
(202) 260-3592.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Internet: OPPT Home
Page and Other Activities
In an evolutionary process,
OPPT is defining its Internet
presence. The OPPT home page
and program Internet site work
will make it easier for Internet
users to obtain EPA data and
documents.
OPPT has successfully
launched a home page and pub-
lished a significant number of
documents on it. There has been
a steady improvement and
expansion of OPPT offerings,
including greater attention to
links with related information
elsewhere. An OPPT planning
group provides support for the
effort and shares information
across the Office. OPPT also
coordinates closely with EPA's
Office of Information Resources
Management which has over-
sight of the Agency home page.
For more information, contact:
Eileen Gibson, (202) 260-6449.
Lead in
Mini-Blinds
The Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) identified
non-glossy vinyl mini-blinds
containing lead as a potential
exposure hazard. OPPT is work-
ing with CPSC to get accurate
and timely information out to
the public on this important
issue.
After mini-blinds were impli-
cated in two child lead poisoning
cases, OPPT and other govern-
ment agencies focused attention
on vinyl mini-blinds as a possi-
ble source of lead exposure.
CPSC performed tests on a vari-
ety of mini-blinds and concluded
that over time the vinyl in non-
glossy mini-blinds degrades
from UV light and heat, and
forms lead dust on the surface of
the mini-blinds. CPSC released a
press report on June 25, 1996 out-
lining the risks non-glossy vinyl
mini-blinds pose to children 6
years and under. OPPT, CPSC,
and associated industry groups
developed an appropriate strate-
gy for dealing with non-glossy
vinyl mini-blinds. OPPT coordi-
nated with EPA's Office of Solid
Waste in developing guidance
on safe disposal of lead-contain-
ing mini-blinds. The makers of
the mini-blinds developed lead-
free vinyl mini-blinds that are
now available to the public.. A
fact sheet instructs the public
how to remove mini-blinds
while preventing lead dust from
contaminating other surfaces.
For more information, contact:
Tova Spector, (202) 260-3467.
Local Government
Training
Local governments can be the
primary deliverer of pollution
prevention assistance to the pub-
lic and business sectors if their
officials have the appropriate
knowledge. As part of an
Agency-wide effort, OPPT is pro-
viding pollution prevention train-
ing to local officials through sev-
eral training and educational pro-
grams. For example, OPPT is one
of several organizations cooperat-
ing to produce a videotape to
inform local officials about meth-
ods of using pollution prevention
principles to decrease groundwa-
ter pollution, which is a leading
local public health problem. For
more information, contact: Lena
Hann Ferris, (202) 260-2237.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
National Environmental
Performance
Partnership System
National Library of
Medicine
Agreement
OPPT
Newsletters
EPA has established a
National Environmental Perfor-
mance Partnership System
(NEPPS) with the states to help
states develop and implement
environmental programs based
on the specific needs of each
state. OPPT plays an important
role in this partnership.
NEPPS and its accompany-ing
Performance Partnership
Agreements (PPGs) with indi-
vidual states provide signifi-
cantly greater flexibility for
states to develop and administer
environmental programs tai-
lored to their particular environ-
mental needs and objectives.
Under NEPPS states can estab-
lish agreements with EPA to
develop environmental plans
and programs that are most
appropriate to their jurisdictions
and, if they choose to establish
new PPGs, can also better direct
available EPA funds to support
those plans. OPPT has been a
consistent contributor to the
development of this new
approach, from emphasizing
multimedia efforts and pollution
prevention in its design, to
proposing preventive, cross-
media measures for both
advancing the progress and
assessing the performance of the
states. OPPT will monitor the
progress of preventive environ-
mental protection through these
vehicles. For more information,
contact: Lena Hann Ferris, (202)
260-2237.
In response to a perceived
need to better coordinate envi-
ronmental and public health
information, a project was begun
to identify needs and develop a
strategy. The current effort focus-
es on assessing the usefulness of
available OPPT information
products. This effort is just get-
ting underway and the Regions
will be invited to join the effort.
Working with the National
Library of Medicine will help
OPPT better identify the infor-
mation products that are most
useful to the public health com-
munity. Further exploration of
available networks will help
OPPT take better advantage of
existing dissemination channels.
For more information, contact:
the TSCA Hotline, (202) 554-1404.
OPPT publishes several free
newsletters so that the public
will be aware of activities which
are occurring in OPPT and
which relate to the OPPT mis-
sion.
Pollution Prevention News
serves as the focal point for mul-
timedia news concerning major
pollution prevention activities
both inside and outside of EPA.
This 12-page newsletter is pub-
lished bi-monthly. For more
information, contact: Maureen
Eichelberger (202) 260-1772.
Chemicals in the Environment
is a quarterly, publication
designed for a non-technical, gen-
eral audience, with each issue
focusing on a single topic. For
more information, contact:
Georgianne McDonald, (202)
260-4182.
1996 Annual Report
53
o
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Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers
Pollution Prevention
Information Clearinghouse
Chemicals in Progress Bulletin
serves as the "newsletter of
record" for OPPT and reports on
the Office's activities and the pro-
grams for which it has responsi-
OPPT is working internation-
ally to help countries establish
Right-to-Know programs, which
are known internationally as
Pollutant Release and Transfer
Registers (PRTRs). OPPT is pro-
viding , information about our
programs and helping to pro-
mote similar programs in other
countries.
OPPT has been involved in
educating the international com-
munity on the process and the
benefits of PRTRs. The UN
Conference on Environment and
Development (the Rio de Janiero
Earth Summit) in 1992 created a
formal international framework
for promoting these registers. At
the same time, bi-lateral and tri-
lateral activities in North
America (e.g., the North
American Free Trade Agreement
bility. This bulletin is published
several times a year; there were
two issues in FY96. For more
information, contact: Maureen
Eichelberger, (202) 260-1772.
and the U.S.-Mexico border
agreement) have spurred interest
in PRTRs in other countries.
OPPT supports this interest
through various means.
In FY96, with OPPT support,
the OECD Guidance to Govern-
ments Manual for PRTRs was
drafted; an OECD Council
Recommendation on PRTRs was
introduced; and a Mexican Pilot
Project in the state of Queretero
was launched. OPPT has also
drafted or supported several
reports, including an interna-
tional summary of PRTR activi-
ties and a tri-national report on
PRTRs created by the North
American Commission on Envi-
ronmental Cooperation. For
more information, contact: John
Harmon, (202)260-6395.
BECK
The clearinghouse is a
resource for information on pol-
lution prevention for businesses,
communities, and the public.
Established in 1992, the
Pollution Prevention Infor-
mation Clearinghouse (PPIC) is
a distribution center for nonreg-
ulatory documents on pollution
prevention prepared by the vari-
ous EPA program offices. It
maintains a telephone hotline for
people who want to order docu-
ments or obtain information
about other EPA information
sources. PPIC also serves as a
repository for documents relat-
ing to pollution prevention,
waste minimization, and alterna-
tive technologies. PPIC is located
in OPPT's library. It is open for
browsing and personal service
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
Documents are also available
through EPA's Online Library
System, through a synchronous
(modem) communication at
(919) 549-0720, with 7 data bits,
even parity, 1 stop bit, and half
duplex.
To obtain the most recent
quarterly list of items that are
available for distribution, call
PPIC at (202) 260-1023 (24-hour
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Real Estate Disclosure
Rule (Section 1018)
for Lead
voice mail; personal assistance
available 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
EST). PPIC also may
be contacted by fax: (202)
260-4659, or E-mail: ppic@epa-
mail.epa.gov. During FY96, the
Clearinghouse responded to
more than 3,500 inquiries; 17,000
documents were requested. For
more information, contact: Beth
Anderson, (202) 260-2602.
OPPT published a rule which
will ensure that families receive
both specific information on the
lead history of housing that they
are planning to buy or rent and
general information on prevent-
ing lead exposure. With this
information, consumers can
make informed housing deci-
sions that protect their families
from exposure to lead.
Congress passed the
Residential Lead-Based Paint
Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to
address the need to control expo-
sure to lead-based paint hazards
in residences. Section 1018 of the
Act requires EPA and the U.S.
Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to
promulgate joint regulations for
disclosure of any known lead-
based paint or lead-based paint
hazards in houses for sale or
lease. A proposed rule was pub-
lished in 1994, and in 1995, EPA
announced the availability of a
pamphlet on lead-based paint
hazards in the home, as required
by law.
On March 6, 1996, EPA and
HUD published the final lead
disclosure rule, which OPPT is
implementing. The rule requires
sellers or leasers of housing units
built before 1978 to provide
potential buyers and renters
with an EPA brochure that
describes the hazards of lead and
the analyses that can be per-
formed to determine the lead
status of the dwelling. As part of
the implementation stage, EPA
published Interpretive Guidance
to help clear up complex imple-
mentation issues. In addition,
EPA granted interim approval to
California and Massachusetts to
use lead hazard brochures devel-
oped by these states to take the
place of the federal brochure in
meeting the regulation require-
ments. The Lead Program is
coordinating with the Radon
Program in EPA's Air Office to
develop educational materials
and programs for the real estate
community. For more informa-
tion, contact: Ellie Clark, (202)
260-3402.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Register of Lists
Risk Characterization
Program
This Register provides users
inside and outside government
with a listing of chemicals that
are regulated by EPA. The
Register of Lists is comprised of
33 separate chemical lists from
across the Agency.
This database gives the public
information about which chemi-
cals are regulated by EPA and
under which statutes. The data-
base is a pointer system to pro-
vide information on regulatory
activities led out of EPA
Headquarters offices, although
Region 5 plays a key role in pro-
cessing the semi-annual updates
for the Register of Lists. The
Register is available electronical-
ly to EPA employees via the
Agency LAN services menu. For
more information, contact Linda
Goodman, (202) 260-1521.
The goal of the Risk Character-
ization Program is to develop
and maintain a program that will
assure clearer, more transparent,
consistent, and reasonable risk
assessments across the Agency.
In the Fall of 1996, the
Administrator requested that
all EPA Offices develop their
own Risk Characterization
Implementation Statement that
would indicate how each Office
would implement March,
1995 guidance on Risk
Characterization. In November,
1996, OPPT submitted its draft
plan for review to the Agency's
Risk Characterization Core
group. Some of OPPT's FY96
highlights include:
• Active participation in all
Agency colloquia devoted to
risk characterization issues,
including presentation of a
case study, and discussion
of its Implementation
Statements;
• Completion of a Table of Risk
Assessment Variables indicat-
ing OPPT statutes and differ-
ences between different types
of assessments; and
• Formation of a sub-group to
begin updating the OPPT risk
assessment "tools", a compi-
lation of 13 volumes of docu-
ments pertaining to the devel-
opment of risk assessments.
Next, OPPT plans to complete
the updating and streamlining of
OPPT risk assessment tools; to
offer at least one risk assess-
ment/risk characterization
course for OPPT staff/manage-
ment; to share this training with
the Office of Pesticide Programs
and other EPA Offices; to review
risk characterizations developed
by OPPT; and to utilize these
reviews to help improve OPPT
assessments. OPPT will contin-
ue to work with other Agency
program offices to achieve
greater harmonization of risk
assessments throughout EPA.
For more information, contact:
Lois Dicker, (202) 260-3387.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Risk Management 1 (RM1)
Process
Screening
Information
Data Set
RMl is a screening process
whose purpose is the identifica-
tion and prioritization of poten-
tial health and environmental
risks of chemicals. This activity
promotes public understanding
of the risks of chemicals and
encourages the public to join in
the environmental decision-
making process.
Begun in 1991, RMl was
designed to ensure that fact-find-
ing and risk management activi-
ties could begin in a timely man-
ner. Its focus is on high produc-
tion volume chemicals. In FY96
testing programs for isopropanol
and nonylphenol reached clo-
sure through RMl. Both testing
programs provided significant
information on the toxicity of
these chemicals. The RMl assess-
ment was used as a vehicle to
engage industry in further col-
laborative efforts to address
issues that emerged during this
analysis.
RMl documents are main-
tained in the TSCA Administrative
Record and are available from the
TSCA Public Docket (Tel: (202)
260-7099; Fax: (202) 260-5069). The
RMl process will continue to
advance OPPTs efforts to expand
screening activities pertaining to
high production "volume chemi-
cals in the TSCA Chemical
Inventory. RMl represents a risk
assessment resource available to
other program areas in OPPT. For
more information, contact: Oscar
Hernandez, (202) 260-1835.
OPPT participates in an inter-
national initiative whereby
countries share the burden of
testing and assessing potential
risks of selected chemicals.
OPPT is working cooperative-
ly with the Screening Informat-
ion Data Set (SIDS) Program, a
voluntary program operated
through OECD, to "share the
burden" of testing and assessing
potential risks from high produc-
tion volume chemicals among
member countries. When com-
plete data sets and risk assess-
ments become available, member
countries may decide to develop
consistent (harmonized) risk
reduction actions for chemicals
found to be of concern to humans
or the environment. In FY96,
OPPT peer reviewed 40 non-U.S.
and six U.S. sponsored SIDS.
Initial Assessment Reports for
the six U.S.-sponsored chemicals
are being finalized. Currently,
there are 51 U.S. sponsored
chemicals at various stages with-
in the SIDS process. OPPT
intends to continue working
with U.S. industry to move these
chemicals through the process,
and in the next year assist in the
selection and induction of addi-
tional U.S.-sponsored chemicals
into the SIDS Program. The SIDS
Program complements OPPT's
Chemical Testing Program
by saving resources in ne-
gotiating testing agreements.
Approximately three-quarters of
the SIDS assessments are con-
ducted by other countries. In
addition, the SIDS Program
makes the information on the
completed cases available to
other countries by publishing it in
the United Nations' International
Register of Potentially Toxic
Chemicals. For more informa-
tion, contact: Charlie Auer, (202)
260-3749.
1996 Annual Report
-------
33/50 Program
Established in 1991, the 33/50
Program was the first of its kind.
It set broad national goals for the
reduction of releases of 17 high-
priority chemicals — national
reductions of 33% by 1992
(against a 1988 baseline) and
reductions of 50% by 1995 and
invited companies to voluntarily
meet these goals. Five years later,
1,300 companies have participat-
ed, annual releases of the 17 tar-
geted chemicals as reported to
the Toxics Release Inventory
(TRI) have been reduced by 750
million pounds, and a family of
voluntary programs has sprung
up as a result of this grand
experiment.
In 1988, the 17 targeted chem-
icals totaled 1.5 billion pounds of
releases and transfers. The
33/50 program achieved its
reduction goals a year ahead of
schedule, meeting the 50%
reduction goal in 1994 (as report-
ed in 1996).
Participation in the 33/50
Program was enthusiastic —
1,300 companies owning more
than 6,000 facilities signed on to
the program voluntarily and
agreed to' cut back their emis-
sions. Both the 33/50 Program
and the participating companies
were recognized for their
achievements in 1996 with a
Hammer Award given by the
Vice President's National
Performance Review. 33/50 also
created a host of informative
materials: 40 detailed case stud-
ies and 200 shorter success sto-
ries, describing steps that com-
panies took to achieve their
reductions. A conference in
Washington, DC in September,
1996 highlighted the 33/50
Program's success and was
attended by several hundred
participating companies.
Percentage Change
o-
Reductions in Releases & Transfers:
33/50 Program Chemicals vs. Other TRI Chemicals
-50 —
1988-1990
1990-1994
33/50 Chemicals
Other TRI Chemicals
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Toxics Release
Inventory Program
Having exceeded its goals, the
33/50 Program is preparing for
retirement. In 1997, the Program
will formally close out with a
final data summary (including
the 1995 data that will then be
available). EPA is engaged in
internal and external dialogues
to explore the possibility of
future partnership programs.
For more information, contact:
David Sarokin, (202) 260-6396.
The Toxics Release Inventory
(TRI) is a database which pro-
vides annual information to the
public about releases of toxic
chemicals from manufacturing
facilities into the environment. It
has been very successful in help-
ing companies target toxic chem-
icals for reduction of releases.
TRI was established under the
Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA) of 1986 and expanded
under the Pollution Prevention
Act of 1990. Facilities report
their TRI information annually
to EPA and the state in which
they are located. The informa-
tion includes, among other
things, amounts of each listed
chemical released to the environ-
ment at the facility; amounts of
each chemical shipped off-site
for recycling, energy recovery.
treatment, or disposal; amounts
of each chemical recycled,
burned for energy recovery, or
treated at the facility; and maxi-
mum amounts of the chemical
present on-site at the facility dur-
ing the year.
With this information, com-
munities know what toxic chem-
icals are present in their neigh-
borhoods, emergency planners
understand what potential
threats they must be prepared to
handle, and facility managers
can identify opportunities for
source reduction. Based on the
principle that people have the
"right-to-know" this informa-
tion, the TRI program has
become a model worldwide. For
more information, contact: Maria
Doa, (202) 260-9592. The follow-
ing six projects describe current
activities within TRI.
CD-ROM and Tutorial
The CD-Rom and Tutorial
released by OPPT broadens
access to the TRI data base.
Beginning in 1989 and every
year thereafter, EPA has pub-
lished a CD-ROM containing the
complete TRI data base. The lat-
est CD-ROM contains the entire
TRI data base for 1987 through
1994, as well as Chemical Fact
Sheets containing health and
environmental effects data for
over 300 TRI chemicals.
Each year since its inception,
the TRI CD-ROM has been
enhanced to provide additional
capabilities. For example, the
CD-ROM published in 1996 con-
tains a tutorial designed to assist
new TRI users to better under-
stand the concept of right-to-
1996 Annual Report
-------
know, the scope of the TRI pro-
gram, and how to use the data. It
is likely that new, Windows-
based software will be devel-
oped or procured in order to
keep pace with the explosion in
graphically-oriented technology.
OPPT will also be investigating
the possibility of developing
multiple CD-ROM products
designed for audiences with dif-
fering needs, for example, the
novice or casual user as well as
the researcher. For more infor-
mation, contact: Jan Erickson,
(202) 260-9389.
Data Access and Release
TRI has proven to be a rich
source of data for a broad public
audience, allowing citizens, the
media, environmental advo-
cates, researchers, the business
community, and others to influ-
ence and evaluate industry
efforts to reduce toxics emis-
sions. Educators are using the
data to conduct studies and
courses on the environment;
labor unions are using the data
to improve conditions for work-
ers; and businesses are using the
data in many ways — to reduce
large stocks of toxic chemicals, to
cut costs, to improve operations,
and to reduce the use of toxic
chemicals. Concerned citizens
are a growing user group, access-
ing TRI to raise and answer
questions about chemical releas-
es in their communities. States
use the national data to compare
releases within industries.
The value of TRI increases as
more people use it. Every year,
EPA expands its outreach activi-
ties to include new potential
users of the data, promote TRI
awareness, provide access, and
increase data usage. Many
options are available for access-
ing TRI. EPA offers the data in a
variety of hard copy and com-
mon computer and formats,
including diskette, CD-ROM,
and computer bulletin boards. It
is available on an on-line nation-
al computer database, and is
being added to the Internet.
Libraries in communities all
across the U.S. are committed to
providing public access to TRI
data. TRI reports are available
from state government offices as
well as from EPA. For each
reporting year, many states
make their data available before
EPA releases data from the
national database. Contact your
state EPCRA Coordinator or
your EPA Regional TRI
Coordinator for assistance. For
more information, contact:
Linda Wunderlich, (202) 260-
4075.
Expansion of TRI to Include
Chemical Use Data
TRI is the main public source
of data about the types and
amounts of chemicals being
released in specific geographic
areas. EPA believes the addition
of chemical use information will
expand the usefulness of the TRI
database. EPA is developing a
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
rule to expand Community Right-
to-Know provisions to increase
the information available to the
public on chemical use.
EPA considers Community
Right-to-Know to be among its
most effective strategies for
improving environmental perfor-
mance. Appropriate expansion
of this approach is an Agency
and Administration priority.
EPA began exploring the value of
chemical use information in 1993.
Chemical use is also commonly
referred to as "materials account-
ing" data that potentially
includes: amounts of a toxic
chemical entering a facility,
amounts transformed into prod-
ucts and wastes, and resulting
amounts leaving the facility site.
In determining whether and how
to expand the TRI, OPPT may
also consider alternative use-
related data elements.
EPA's preliminary view is that
chemical use information could
provide important insights on
issues such as: emergency pre-
paredness issues related to the
amounts of chemicals flowing
through communities, the overall
quantities of toxics going into
products, worker safety and
health issues, and facility pollu-
tion prevention performance. In
1996, OPPT put forth an Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
which requested information in
five main areas: 1) the premise
for and utility of chemical use
information, 2) Agency-wide
environmental reporting issues,
3) impacts on confidential busi-
ness information, 4) cost esti-
mates, and 5) technical collection
and interpretation issues. Upon
completion of this review, EPA
will determine if further action is
appropriate. For more informa-
tion, contact: Matt Gillen, (202)
260-1801.
TRI Chemical Expansion
The initial list of TRI sub-
stances included more than 300
chemicals and 20 chemical cate-
gories. On November 30, 1994,
EPA added 286 chemicals and
chemical categories to the list of
toxic chemicals subject to TRI
reporting. This action virtually
doubled the number of chemi-
cals now being reported to TRI,
and significantly boosts the
amount of information available
to the public.
The addition of these chemi-
cals and chemical categories is
based on their acute human
health effects, carcinogenicity, or
other chronic health effects,
and/or their adverse effects on
the environment. The screening
process for selecting the chemi-
cals to be added included a
review of current data sources, a
human health and ecotoxicity
screen, and a production volume
screen. A thorough hazard
assessment was also performed
for the chemicals that were
under review. (This information
had already been used extensive-
ly by the public.) In 1996, OPPT
1996 Annual Report
-------
TSCA Section 8(e)
Information Products
successfully defended this action
in court. For more information,
contact: Dan Bushman, (202)
260-6700.
TRI Facility Expansion
TRI provides information to
the public on transfers and
releases of 600 chemicals from
certain industry sectors. This
program has been a huge success
in many ways, from providing
needed information to citizens to
encouraging industry to reduce
toxic emissions. To expand the
environmental benefits of this
program, in FY 1996 OPPT
issued a proposed rule to expand
the industries which are required
to report to the TRI.
The purpose of TRI Facility
Expansion is to add industry sec-
tors to the current list of manu-
facturing facilities required to
report under Section 313 of
EPCRA. This will greatly
strengthen Community Right-to-
Know by providing information
on toxic chemical releases and
waste management from facili-
ties outside of currently report-
ing manufacturing facilities. A
number of factors were used to
consider which industries might
be added to the initial list of sub-
ject industries, including avail-
able data on toxic chemical
releases, relationship to manu-
facturing, and the potential bur-
den that reporting under TRI
might place on facilities.
New industries included in
the TRI facility expansion effort
are: metal mining, coal mining,
coal and oil-fired electric genera-
tion stations, commercial haz-
ardous waste treatment, chemi-
cals and allied products-whole-
sale, petroleum bulk stations,
and solvent recovery services.
OPPT analyzed the burden
reporting would place on these
industries and reduced the total
burden by issuing exemptions
for those activities where TRI
reporting would not significant-
ly benefit society. For more
information, contact: Tim
Crawford, (202) 260-1715.
In an effort to facilitate infor-
mation sharing to the public,
OPPT has developed a
TSCA Section 8(e) Information
Product. TSCA Section 8(e)
requires chemical manufactur-
ers, processors, and distributors
to submit unpublished data that
shows potential substantial risk
from chemicals. The public will
now have access to unpublished
substantial risk information on
existing chemicals submitted
under TSCA Section 8(e), as well
as OPPT hazard and risk screen-
ing evaluations of these submis-
sions.
OPPT developed an 8(e)
Information Product to enable
the Agency to more effectively
share information on the rising
volume of substantial risk
notices. The reporting require-
ments for 8(e) began on January
1, 1977 when TSCA went into
effect, and since then the Agency
has received nearly 14,000 such
notices. The 8(e) Information
Product contains summary infor-
mation from international stud-
ies submitted by industry. It has
been distributed via diskette to
other EPA program offices, other
federal and state-government
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
agencies, and to the public. The
data are also available on
EPA's home page at "http:
\ \ www.epa.gov\docs\8e_ttiag\ ".
An updated version (3.0) of the
8(e) Information Product will be
available in 1997 and possibly in
CD-ROM format. This data
helps other EPA offices and fed-
eral and state agencies to sup-
port the various public health
and environmental regulatory
authorities, and helps industry,
professional organizations and
the public to support risk assess-
ment/risk management activi-
ties. For more information, con-
tact: Terry O'Bryan, (202) 260-
3483.
1996 Annual Report
63
e
-------
Future Activities
&EPA
OPPT will continue to build
on the successful innovative
activities described in this report.
While great strides have been
made in OPPT's four mission
areas—preventing pollution,
promoting safer chemicals,
reducing risks in the life cycle of
major chemicals of concern, and
promoting public understanding
of toxic chemicals—there is
much room for continued
growth and progress.
Preventing pollution will con-
tinue to be an overall priority in
the work of OPPT. The Agency
will increase work on industry-
specific projects which develop
practical methods, processes,
and tools to apply in the real
world. Incentives for engaging
in pollution prevention projects,
such as financing and account-
ing benefits, will also be an area
of focus.
Promoting safer chemicals
will occur more and more
through cooperative, voluntary,
and partnership approaches,
particularly centered around
use-specific evaluations, and the
development of safer substitutes
for products. Another area of
interest is the development of a
system for screening and priori-
tizing the 70,000 chemicals on
the TSCA Inventory. By focusing
on "worst first," OPPT will bet-
ter protect you and the environ-
ment. The international arena is
also growing. Other countries
face the same challenges in man-
aging chemical risks, and U.S.
companies are dealing increas-
ingly with our international
neighbors. Thus, OPPT is
expanding relationships with
other countries to prevent pollu-
tion and reduce risk globally.
OPPT will continue to educate
the public on the best ways to
avoid exposure to chemical risks
already present in the environ-
ment, and will continue to pur-
sue sound science for reducing
these risks. In addition, OPPT
remains vigilant for any addi-
tional persistent chemicals
which might require attention
and risk management.
Information dissemination
will continue to be a priority for
expansion and improvement,
particularly concerning the pub-
lic's right-to-know. OPPT is
reorganizing to include a branch
dedicated to community-based
environmental work, in order to
further increase public partici-
pation and to understand the
information needs at the indi-
vidual local level. In addition,
the Agency is working to make
databases compatible and
reduce duplicative and unnec-
essary reporting, resulting in
more accessible and more rele-
vant data.
This country has come a long
way in reducing and managing
the risks of toxics in the environ-
ment, and OPPT is proud to be a
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
part of that success. Continued
improvement requires the input
of the public, industry, and com-
munities, and OPPT looks for-
ward to learning your ideas and
perspectives to better serve you.
The future holds much work, but
together we are ready to meet
that challenge. By working
cooperatively, we will be able to
realize the promise for improved
information flow, successful
partnerships, and ultimately, an
improved environment.
1996 Annual Report
-------
Index of Projects
SEPA
Project
Page
Acrylates Testing Agreement
Acute Exposure Guidelines for Hazardous Substances
Aqueous Solvents Hazard Guide
Benzidine-Based Dyes
Bioremediation Field Trial
Biotechnology (TSCA) Regulations
Brochure on Lead Testing
Cancer Expert System
Carpet Dialogue Forum and Technical Evaluation Panel
Chemical Fact Sheets
Chemicals on Reporting Rules (CORR)
Chicago Cumulative Risk Initiative
Common Sense Initiative
Common Sense Initiative: Computer and
Electronics Subcommittee
Community Environmental Partnership Project: Baltimore, MD
Confidential Business Information: State Access
Consumer Labeling Initiative
Core TSCA Enforcement Project
Customer Service Standards for Partnership Programs
Dermal Absorption Rate Data Development
Design for the Environment Program
Aerospace and Aviation
Dry Cleaning Project
Outreach
Printing Project
Printed Wiring Board
Dioxin/Furan Test Rule
Drinking Water Contaminants Testing Action
ECOS AR Manual
Endocrine Disrupters: Development of Testing Needs
Environmental Accounting Project
Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention Grants
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing:
Construction Pilot Project
Environmental Technology Initiative for Chemicals
EPA Voluntary Standards Network and
the ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards
Facility Identification Initiative
Formaldehyde Exposure Testing
Forum on State and Tribal Toxics Action (FOSTTA)
20
20
45^
21
22
22
45
22
6
45
46
34
6
7
47
47
48
23
48
23
24
24
24
25
25
26
34
26
49
27
8
8
9
10
11
50
27
50
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
-------
Green Chemistry 12
Green Chemistry Challenge 12
Green Chemistry Curriculum Development 13
Homeowner's Guide to Lead-Based Paint 51
Interagency Partnerships and Industry-
University-Government Partnerships 13
International Sharing of Information: Four Corners Agreement 51
Internet: OPPT Home Page and Other Activities 52
Land Application of Sludge from Pulp and Paper Mills 35
Lead in Mini-Blinds 52
Lead Programs 35
Additional Analysis of the XRF/Test Kit Study 35
Community-Based Lead Abatement Demonstration Project 36
Coordinating Lead Activities Across the Federal Government 37
Distribution of Soil Lead in the Nation's Housing 37
Identification of Lead-Based Paint Hazards,
Lead-Contaminated Dust, and Lead-Contaminated Soil 38
International Lead Program 38
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 39
National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) 39
Task Force on Mercury 40
Training for Lead-Based Paint Abatement Activities 40
Local Government Training 52
Media Association Pollution Prevention Forum 13
National Environmental Performance Partnership
System 53
National Library of Medicine Agreement 53
New Chemicals Program Customer Service Standards 28
OECD-EPA Harmonized Test Guidelines 14
OPPT Newsletters 53
Paperless Office 14
Partnership Programs Coordinating Committee 15
PCB Disposal Amendments 41
PCB Import for Disposal Rule, Transboundary Considerations 41
PCB International, North American Regional Action Plan 41
PMN Exemptions 28
Polymer Exemptions 28
Low Volume Exemptions 28
Low Release/Low Exposure Exemptions 29
Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers 54
Pollution Prevention Incentives for States 15
Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse 54
Pollution Prevention Through Regulation 16
Pollution Prevention Trade Association Workgroup 17
Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) Review Process 17
Product Stewardship/Respiratory Protection in Autobody
Spray Paints 29
Project XL 18
Real Estate Disclosure Rule (Section 1018) for Lead 55
1996 Annual Report
67
-------
Refractory Ceramic Fibers
Register of Lists
Risk Assessment Tools: OPPT and Kodak
Risk Characterization Program
Risk Management I (RM1) Process
Screening Information Data Set
Siloxane Product Stewardship Program: Memorandum
of Understanding
Small Business Development Center Pilots: Pennyslvania
and Vermont
SMART Review Program
Synthetic Mineral Fibers: Interagency Workgroup
33/50 Program
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program
CD-ROM and Tutorial
Data Access and Release
Expansion of TRI to Include Chemical Use Data
TRI Chemical Expansion
TRI Facility Expansion
TSCA Section 4 Data Receipt
TSCA Section 4 Enforceable Consent Agreements
Phenol
Alkyl (C12-13) Glydicyl Ethers (AGEs)
l/2-bis(2/4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane(BTBPE)
DiBasic Esters
Aryl Phosphates
Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDD
Hazardous Air Pollutants
TSCA Section 8(e) Information Products
TSCA Section 8(a) and Section 8(d) Information Gathering Rules
Use and Exposure Information Project
Whole House Initiative
42
56
30
56
57
57
30
18
19
43
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Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
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