&EPA
OFFICE OF POLLUTION PREVENTION AND TOXICS
SUMMER-FALL 1996 EPA-745-N-96-001
Chemicals in Progress
To Our Readers
Due to budgetary restric-
tions, the Fall/Winter 1995/
1996 issue of Chemicals in
Progress Bulletin was not
printed and distributed. We
regret any inconvenience
this may have caused our
readers. Two previous
issues, as well as this one,
are available electronically
on the Internet via the
EPA Web site at: http://
www.epa.gov/docs/
ChemLibCIP/
20 Years Under TSCA
by William H. Sanders III, Dr. P.M., P.E.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Toxic Substances
Control Act, or TSCA. In 1976, passage of this law offered a promis-
ing mechanism to help us better understand chemical risks, and to
address these risks in a comprehensive, multi-media framework.
The purpose of TSCA is to ensure that the tens of thousands of
chemicals routinely used in commerce are used safely — that they
are safe for our children, for our workers, for the general public
and for the environment. What a tremendous vision, and what a
daunting task! EPA set to work compiling information on, and
reducing risks from, chemicals in commerce. Twenty years later,
EPA and industry are continuing this important work, and looking
at ways to improve our efforts to control the risks posed by thou-
sands of priority chemicals.
While we still do not have complete knowledge of all chemicals in
existence, in many ways TSCA has surpassed the promising expec-
tations which heralded its arrival. For while the language is basi-
20 Years continued on page 8
EPA Proposes To Expand TRI Industry
List, Releases 1994 TRI Data
On June 26, Vice President Al Gore, accompanied by EPA Adminis-
trator Carol M. Browner, proposed increasing by approximately
30% the number of industrial facilities required to report releases of
toxic chemicals to air, water, and land to EPA's Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI). With this addition of approximately 6,400 facilities,
over 31,000 facilities will be required to report on toxic emissions
to the TRI program.
TRI Industry List continued on page 2
VOL. 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
Table of Contents
Contents
1 20 Years Under TSCA by
Dr. William H, Sanders III
1 EPA Proposes to Expand TRI
Industry List, Releases 1994
TRI Data
TRI
3 EPA Issues Final Rules for TRI
Delisting
3 EPA Moves Toward Chemical
Use Reporting
Existing Chemicals Program
4 Polymer Manufacturers Report
Use of New Polymer
Exemption
5 EPA Seeks Public Comment on
State Access to TSCA
Confidential Business Data
5 TSCA Section 21 Petition:
Chicago Legal Clinic
6 Hazardous Air Pollutants Test
Rule Proposed
6 ITC Releases 38th Report
7 Focus On: Endocrine
Disrupters
General
10 Empowering Community-based
Environmental Protection with
OPPTS' Catalogue of Tools
10 OPPT Community Based
Partnership Project Unfolding
11 EPA and Dow Corning Sign
Formal Agreement Covering
Six Siloxanes
Design for the Environment
12 Cleaner Technologies
Substitutes Assessment:
Lithographic Blanket Washes
by James Rea and Karen Seeh,
DfE Program
Pollution Prevention
13 1996 Pollution Prevention
Trade Association Meeting
Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
14 EPA Moves to Ensure Certified
Help for Home Hazards from
Lead-Based Paint
15 Preventing Lead-Based Paint
Hazard Exposure Starts With
Informed Families
17 Lead Environmental Justice
Initiative: Training Class
Graduates
18 PCB Rules Revised to Allow
Import for Disposal
Resources
19 Register of Lists
19 OPPT Annual Report
For correspondence and
subscriptions:
Chemicals in
Progress Bulletin
U.S. EPA (7407)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Mike McDonell, Co-Editor
Maureen Eichelberger,
Co-Editor
Gilah Langner
Free Hand Press, Layout
TRI Industry List
From page 1
Vice President Gore said, "Put-
ting information about local
pollution into the hands of the
public is the single most effec-
tive, common-sense tool avail-
able for protecting human
health and the environment."
The proposed increase in facili-
ties reporting comes about as a
result of adding seven new
industrial categories to the
Right-to-Know program estab-
lished under the 1986 Emer-
gency Planning and Community
Right to Know Act. Those
categories are: metal mining,
coal mining, electric utilities,
commercial hazardous waste
treatment, petroleum bulk
terminals, chemical wholesalers,
and solvent recovery services.
As reported earlier in Chemi-
cals in Progress Bulletin, in
November 1994, EPA nearly
doubled the list of toxic sub-
stances for which reporting is
required, from 337 to 648
chemicals. In May 1996, a
federal court decided in favor
of EPA in a suit brought by the
Chemical Manufacturers Asso-
ciation and other chemical
industry groups which sought
to limit expansion of the
chemical list. This decision has
been appealed. However,
CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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I
TRI
reporting on the new chemi-
cals was required by August 1
of this year.
1994 TRI data released
TRI data for 1994 were also
released at the press conference
on June 26. The data show a
decline of 8.6%, or 186 million
pounds, in levels of toxic
chemicals released into the
environment, continuing a
downward trend. However,
most of the 8.6% decline is
attributable to two fertilizer
plants in Louisiana. The plants
used pollution control and
prevention measures to reduce
releases of phosphoric acid,
which accounted for all but
about 1.6% of the national
decline in releases that year.
Recycling of toxic chemicals in
1994 increased by 174 million
pounds, or 8.5%. The data also
show, however, that the
amount of waste generated by
industry increased by 5.4% in
1994, to 26.5 billion pounds.
In releasing the 1994 TRI data,
Administrator Browner said,
"The good news today is that
the levels of toxic chemcials
released into America's environ-
ment continue to decline, and
the decline comes during a
period of robust economic
growth. This proves once again
that environmental progress and
economic expansion can go
hand-in-hand. We're also
pleased that the recycling of
1994 TRI Data continued on page 19
EPA Moves Toward Chemical Use Reporting
To provide communities with a
more complete picture of local
pollution and public health
risks, EPA has taken its first
formal action toward giving
communities the right to know
how local industrial facilities use
toxic chemicals.
EPA Administrator Carol M.
Browner said, "The expansion
we are considering would give
the public the right to know not
just which chemicals come out
of local industrial facilities, but
which chemicals go into their
neighborhoods and how they
are used. Putting information
about local pollution into the
hands of the public is the single
most effective, common-sense
tool available for protecting
public health and environment."
EPA issued an Advanced Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking on
October 1 (61 FR 51322) to
notify the public of, and take
comments on, potential new
requirements for chemical use
reporting under the Community
Right-to-Know program. Report-
ing on chemical use (also
referred to as materials ac-
counting) would expand public
information available on toxic
chemicals that enter local
industrial facilities; the amounts
of chemicals transformed into
Chemical Use continued on page 19
EPA Issues Final Rules For TRI Delisting
EPA has issued final rules to delist di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate,
diethyl phthalate and non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid
from TRI. (See: 61 FR 38600, July 25, 1996; 61 FR 39356, July
29, 1996; 61 FR 39891, July 31, 1996.) Section 313(e) of the
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act
(EPCRA) allows for petitions from the public to list or delist
TRI chemicals.
EPA concluded that di-(2-ethylhexyl) and diethyl phthalate did
not meet the listing criteria established under EPCRA; the two
chemicals were delisted entirely. For hydrochloric acid, only
non-aerosol forms of hydrochloric acid were examined and
found not to meet the listing criteria. Companies must continue
to report releases of aerosol forms.
Since TRI was created in 1986, EPA has delisted or modified the
listing for 17 chemicals. For more information on the TRI
delisting, call Dan Bushman at 202-260-3882.
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VOL. 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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Existing Chemicals Program
Polymer Manufacturers Report Use Of New Polymer Exemption
Last year EPA published a final
rule amending the 1984 polymer
exemption, which increased the
number of new polymers eli-
gible for exemption from the
TSCA section 5 premanufacture
notification (PMN) requirements,
and greatly reduced industry's
reporting burden for those
polymers eligible for exemption.
The amendments eliminated
notification 21 days prior to
manufacture and reduced the
information requirements. As a
result of the changes, manufac-
turers may now submit a simple
report by January 31 which
contains information on the
number of exempted polymers
manufactured under the provi-
sions of the exemption for the
first time during the preceding
calendar year.
The first reports received by EPA
covered a seven-month period
from the effective date of the
exemption, May 30, 1995,
through December 31, 1995.
During this period, 51 compa-
nies reported the manufacture
of 99 polymers under the terms
of the exemption. EPA estimates
that this initial use of the ex-
emption saved polymer manu-
facturers $902,000-$!.3 million
by eliminating delay costs, user
fees, and submission costs
associated with the 1984 poly-
mer exemption. (These figures
are based on EPA's 1994 Regula-
tory Impact Analysis of the PMN
Amendments. Even greater
savings are realized if compared
to the costs of a full PMN sub-
mission.) EPA estimated its own
savings at $100,584-$! 19,097 for
the 99 polymers.
During the same period, EPA
also reviewed over 200 PMNs for
polymers that could have quali-
fied for exemption, and if manu-
factured under the exemption,
would have saved considerable
industry and Agency resources.
Nevertheless, EPA expects indus-
try will take greater advantage of
the polymer exemption as other
polymer manufacturers and
importers become more familiar
with the exemption criteria and
the significant benefits of its
application in their marketing
strategies.
The polymer exemption amend-
ments were published by OPPT
on March 29, 1995 as part of a
comprehensive set of PMN Rule
Amendments aimed at achieving
a more efficient regulatory
process, saving costs for EPA and
submitters, and allowing
submitters greater flexibility in
manufacturing certain new
chemical substances. The amend-
ments incorporate pollution
prevention principles, encourage
the manufacture of safer chemi-
cals and allow the Agency to
shift its limited resources from
the review of low-risk substances
to those that may present a
higher risk. The polymer exemp-
tion amendments also foster
international accord since Envi-
ronment Canada has adopted the
Agency's low-risk criteria for
polymers in its regulation of new
chemicals and the Organization
of Economic Cooperation and
Development has expressed
strong interest in EPA's criteria
for low-risk polymers.
To assist industry in understand-
ing and applying the polymer
exemption provisions, EPA has
published a draft technical
guidance document on the
polymer exemption, which is
available from the TSCA Hotline
(202-554-1404). A revised ver-
sion of this document, which
incorporates industry comments,
will soon be available.
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CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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Existing Chemicals Program
EPA Seeks Public Comment On State Access
To TSCA Confidential Business Data
EPA is seeking public comment
on four state reports describing
the value of confidential busi-
ness information collected under
the Toxic Substances Control
Act (TSCA) that EPA shared with
these states for the first time.
Through the project — sup-
ported by industry and the
states — the state environmental
agencies of Georgia, Illinois,
New York, and Wisconsin
received controlled access to the
data for the sole purpose of
determining the value of the
information to state environ-
mental programs. Much of the
information on chemicals in
commerce that EPA receives
under TSCA — including facil-
ity-specific information and
health and safety information —
is confidential and may not be
reviewed or utilized by persons
outside the federal government,
including states. Among other
suggestions, the state reports
identify ways in which the TSCA
information could be used in
state risk assessment/chemical
management processes.
EPA is soliciting comment on
the state reports and the general
issue of state access to TSCA
data. The state reports and
background material can be
obtained by calling the TSCA
Hotline at 202-554-1404. For
additional information, call
Scott Sherlock at 202-260-1536.
TSCA Section 21 Petition: Chicago Legal Clinic
On February 23, 1996, EPA
received a petition under TSCA
Section 21 from the Chicago
Legal Clinic representing 11
community advocacy groups.
The petition requested that EPA
issue a rule under Section 6 of
TSCA regulating the disposal of
dioxins, furans, mercury, cad-
mium, and lead through air
deposition from eight incinera-
.tors slated to begin operating
(or in one case, already operat-
ing) in Cook County, Illinois
and Lake County, Indiana. The
petition alternatively requested
the issuance of a TSCA Section 4
rule that would require the
collection of data on cumulative
effects, focusing on those risks.
posed by dioxins, furans, mer-
cury, cadmium, and lead. Under
Section 21 of TSCA, EPA had 90
days (until May 23, 1996 in this
instance) from receipt of the
petition to prepare and issue a
response to the petitioner.
An interoffice workgroup was
assembled to evaluate the
petition and generate a re-
sponse. The workgroup, after
analyzing information collected
during the investigation, deter-
mined that insufficient informa-
tion existed to support the
initiation of regulatory activity.
However, the group believed
that several significant issues
were raised during the petition
investigatory process, including
cumulative effects, loading, and
the risks posed by incinerators
and other point, area, and
mobile sources.
A letter signed by OPPTS Assis-
tant Administrator Lynn
Goldman on May 23, 1996
denied the petition but pro-
posed that the petitioners work
with EPA to plan and implement
a community-based effort de-
signed to address the issues
faced by residents of metropoli-
tan Chicago to the fullest practi-
cal extent.
VOL. 17/NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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Existing Chemicals Program
Hazardous Air Pollutants Test Rule Proposed
On June 26, 1996, EPA pub-
lished a TSCA section 4 test rule
proposing that manufacturers
and processors of 21 hazardous
air pollutants test those sub-
stances for a wide range of
health effects. The primary
purpose of the test rule is to
obtain data to determine the
residual risks posed by these
substances after the imposition
of technology based standards
emission standards (maximum
achievable control technology or
MACT standards) required by
section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
Section 112(b) of the Clean Air
Act lists 189 substances as
hazardous air pollutants. EPA
selected 21 of the substances for
this first HAPs test rule based on
their production volume, high
levels of release to the atmo-
sphere as indicated by the
Toxics Release Inventory, and a
lack of key data on health
effects. The 21 substances are:
biphenyl, carbonyl sulfide,
chlorine, chlorobenzene, chloro-
prene, cresols (3 isomers),
diethanolamine, ethylbenzene,
ethylene dichloride, ethylene
glycol, hydrochloric acid, hydro-
gen fluoride, maleic anhydride,
phenol, phthalic anhydride,
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,1,2-
trichloroethane, and vinylidene
chloride.
A public meeting on the pro-
posed rule was held on October
1, 1996. The rule and supporting
documentation are available
electronically on the EPA Public
Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov)
or EPA website (http://www.epa.
gov) under the heading: Rules,
Regulations and Legislation;
Federal Register— Environmental
Subset; Toxics.
ITC Issues 38th Report
The 38th Report of the TSCA Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) was transmitted to the EPA
Administrator on May 31, 1996. During the six months covered by this Report, the ITC revised the
TSCA section 4(e) Priority Testing List by recommending 18 nonylphenol ethoxylates and remov-
ing white phosphorus, 2 High Production Volume Chemicals (HPVCs), and 2 Oxygenated Fuel
Additives (OFAs). The ITC took these actions to meet and coordinate the data needs of U.S.
Government Member organizations, to notify the public of chemical-testing decisions on
nonylphenol ethoxylates, HPVCs, OFAs, and to obtain data for better decision making.
To facilitate communication between U.S. Government organizations needing data on
alkylphenols and ethoxylates and the manufacturers, importers, processors, and users of these
chemicals, an ITC Subcommittee and the Alkylphenols and Ethoxylates Panel of the Chemical
Manufacturers Association (CMA) established a Dialog Group. The Dialog Group convened sev-
eral meetings to discuss the uses, environmental fate and ecological effects of alkyphenols and
ethoxylates, the complex nonylphenol ethoxylates' nomenclature issues and to develop a strategy
to identify the 18 nonylphenol ethoxylates listed in the 38th Report. In addition, the Dialog Group
organized platform and poster sessions on alkyphenols and ethoxylates for the November 17-21,
1996 Society of Toxicology and Chemistry meeting in Washington, DC.
The ITC's Subcommittees also met with another CMA panel and the Silicones Environmental
Health and Safety Council (SEHSC) to discuss several chemicals and chemical groups.
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CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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Existing Chemicals Program
Focus On: Endocrine Disrupters
Endocrine disrupters are sub-
stances that interfere with
normal hormone system func-
tioning. They can exert an
influence on hormone synthesis
and secretion, transport, bind-
ing, or elimination. Since the
endocrine system controls
development, growth and
metabolism throughout the life
cycle of an organism, endocrine
disrupters can adversely affect
growth and development, sexual
differentiation, and a host of
biological functions. Environ-
mental contaminants have
caused endocrine disruption in
fish and wildlife and, to a
limited extent, in humans.
Recent research indicates that
environmental endocrine
disrupters need more attention
by chemical and pesticide
regulators. As an indication of
the public's concern, the re-
cently amended Safe Drinking
Water Act requires EPA to ini-
tiate a screening and testing
program for environmental
estrogens and gives the Agency
discretionary authority to ex-
pand this effort to other kinds of
endocrine disrupters.
EPA convened a meeting on
May 15 and 16 to discuss how
EPA can work cooperatively
with industry, the environmental
community, academia and
others to develop a screening
and testing strategy to identify
chemicals which may pose
significant risks through endo-
crine disruption. While many
participants stressed the techni-
cal and policy challenges that lie
ahead in developing and imple-
menting such a strategy, there
was consensus that the screen-
ing and testing of potential
endocrine disrupters is a high-
priority effort that should be
pursued now and that key
stakeholders would work coop-
eratively with EPA to develop a
screening and testing strategy. A
draft summary of the May
meeting can be obtained by
calling the TSCA Hotline 202-
554-1404.
The support shown for develop-
ment of the screening and
testing strategy at the May
meeting provided the basis for
convening a federal advisory
committee or subcommittee to
be known as the Endocrine
Disrupter Screening and Testing
Advisory Committee to develop
the strategy. The committee's
first meeting is scheduled for
Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 1996 in Wash-
ington, D.C. For more informa-
tion, contact Gary Timm at
202-260-1859.
Recent research indicates
that environmental
endocrine disrupters need
more attention by chemical
and pesticide regulators.
VOL. 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
General
20 Years
From page 1
cally the same — despite the
addition of titles dealing with
asbestos, radon, and lead, TSCA
has probably seen fewer
changes than any other EPA
statute — the application of the
law has expanded to keep pace
with the broadening environ-
mental principles embodied in
the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA, 1986) and the Pollution
Prevention Act (1990). In addi-
tion, innovative application of
TSCA has become essential in a
federal government with greater
limits on its capacity to respond
to the complexity and multitude
of public concerns. Innovative
approaches have become in-
creasingly possible with in-
creased environmental
awareness and sophistication
among the general public, and a
stronger commitment on both
the part of industry and the
federal government to work in
partnership to reduce risks.
Representatives from other
countries routinely visit EPA to
learn about TSCA and how we
implement the law. Only a
handful of countries have devel-
oped a similar mechanism — in
many parts of the world the
public has no way of knowing
what chemicals are being manu-
factured and used.
In implementing TSCA, my
office, the Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, focuses
on three implementation areas:
chemical testing, existing chemi-
cals, and new chemicals. In
each of these areas we have
instituted innovative methods to
minimize transaction costs and
to fully involve affected parties.
We are currently working with
stakeholders to develop a long
term National Toxics Agenda,
which will help us in prioritizing
risk assessment and risk reduc-
tion activities. Under the Testing
Program, we now use enforce-
able consent agreements and
voluntary testing initiatives,
which have been shown to
lower transaction costs for the
regulated community and gov-
ernment alike. These voluntary
approaches provide opportuni-
ties for industry to offer bal-
anced programs combining
testing activities with pollution
prevention and product steward-
ship. In addition, we have
established priority testing
needs through the Master Test-
ing List which directs our re-
sources more efficiently.
The Existing Chemicals Program
has become more productive
and more flexible over the
years, as its mission has ex-
panded to incorporate pollution
prevention and right-to-know as
integral parts of the program.
Tools such as the use cluster
approach allow us to address
large numbers of chemicals in a
systematic way aimed at maxi-
mizing risk reduction and pre-
venting pollution. We are using
data from the Toxics Release
Inventory, or TRI, to focus in on
facilities with large releases of
priority chemicals. TRI was born
out of EPCRA, an act which is
also celebrating a major anniver-
sary this year: it has been ten
years since Congress gave the
American public the right,
through the tools in EPCRA, to
know what toxic chemicals are
being released to the air, land,
and water in their communities.
The tools and strategies of
today's existing chemicals
program, in large part due to
advances gained through
EPCRA, go significantly beyond
what TSCA explicitly requires.
The New. Chemicals Program
has been tremendously produc-
tive over the years in reviewing
thousands of new chemical
substances. Recently this pro-
gram has reinvented itself to
meet stakeholder needs by
developing new tools for a more
expeditious, effective, and
efficient operation. By evaluat-
ing risks and making decisions
before a substance enters the
marketplace, TSCA offers per-
haps the most cost-effective
means of pollution prevention.
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CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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General
It has been extremely successful
in keeping potentially harmful
substances out of commerce.
EPA has taken this concept a
step further and is working with
industry to prevent pollution at
the molecular level, in designing
new products, suggesting refor-
mulations to reduce and elimi-
nate hazardous by-products of
production, and reducing the
toxicity of chemicals.
The past 20 years have taught
us three key lessons. First,
preventing pollution offers the
first and often best opportunity
for protecting health and the
environment. Second, empow-
ering the public with informa-
tion helps assure compliance
with existing laws and encour-
ages companies to take addi-
tional measures to reduce toxic
releases. Third, industry and
EPA can work cooperatively
and in partnership to improve
our environment. When em-
powered with information on
pollution prevention and other
important tools, industry has
taken the initiative to reduce
the impact their products and
processes have on the environ-
ment. A good example of this
type of industry initiative is the
Responsible Care® Program, a
comprehensive environmental
program for the chemical
industry.
These lessons are the corner-
stone of our new approach for
addressing toxics in the environ-
ment. At EPA, we hope to
continue to incorporate these
three lessons into our programs
in an intelligent and responsible
manner. We recognize that there
are times when we may need to
move beyond the first choice on
the waste management hierar-
chy, pollution prevention; that
public empowerment carries
with it the need to provide the
information and education that
the public requires to make
sound decisions; and that there
will always be the need for
federal oversight in environmen-
tal issues. However, when
applied thoughtfully, these
principles will result in a better
environment for all of us. The
principles of pollution preven-
tion, right-to-know, and stake-
holder partnerships form the
foundation of the nation's toxics
program now and in the future.
As over the past twenty years,
our understanding and applica-
tion of TSCA will continue to
grow and evolve as we face the
challenges of reducing chemical
risks over the next twenty years
and beyond.
Dr. William H. Sanders III is
Director ofEPA's Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
The past 20 years have
taught us three key
lessons. First, preventing
pollution offers the first
and often best opportunity
for protecting health and
the environment. Second,
empowering the public with
information helps assure
compliance with existing
laws and encourages
companies to take
additional measures to
reduce toxic releases.
Third, industry and EPA
can work cooperatively and
in partnership to improve
our environment.
El VOL. 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
General
Empowering Community-Based Environmental
Protection with OPPT's Catalogue of Tools
EPA is working on a new ap-
proach to environmental prob-
lems that reflects the Agency's
commitment to integrated, multi-
media strategies, and its in-
creased emphasis on involving
citizens and the regulated
community in environmental
protection efforts. The commu-
nity-based environmental pro-
tection strategies are looking
holistically at the range of
problems that affect a given
geographic area, ecosystem or
community, rather than relying
on programs based on indi-
vidual media. This place-based
approach takes into account the
fact that most areas experience
a variety of interrelated con-
cerns involving not just environ-
mental issues, but also
economic and social concerns.
In February 1995, EPA Deputy
Administrator Fred Hansen
asked the Agency's Regional
Administrators and Assistant
Administrators to develop
strategies for promoting commu-
nity-based environmental pro-
tection to achieve the following
goals:
• To protect and sustain healthy
human and ecological com-
munities;
• To develop goals and solu-
tions in a collaborative man-
ner, based on sound science;
• To empower, inform and
equip those who make,
participate in, and live with
environmental management
decisions;
• To create an iterative, dy-
namic process for ongoing
partnerships, monitoring and
adjustments.
OPPTS has developed a strategy
that identifies, develops, and
provides information and techni-
cal and regulatory tools to the
regions, states, and local com-
munities to help carry out
specific community-based
initiatives. The strategy includes
a catalogue of tools along with
an action plan for completing
milestones.
The catalogue of tools contains
some 60 resources from both
the Office of Pesticide Programs
and the Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, with
information about partnerships,
databases, grants and regula-
tions, conferences and training,
hotlines, printed materials, and
other OPPTS products. The
catalogue includes familiar tools
such as the Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI) and the Pesti-
cide Information Network (PIN),
as well as lesser-known re-
sources such as the TSCA 8(e)
Triage Information Data Base
which contains information from
scientific studies on the health
and environmental effects of
toxic chemicals.
For more information about the
OPPTS strategy, please contact
Christine Augustyniak, Deputy
Director of the Environmental
Assistance Division, at (202)
260-1024.
OPPT Community
Based Partnership
Project Unfolding
The Office of Pollution Preven-
tion and Toxics (OPPT) is con-
tinuing its efforts to engage in a
community-based environmental
justice pilot project to better
understand how OPPT's tools and
resources can be used to meet
the needs of disadvantaged
communities. OPPT's goals are to
assist a community with environ-
mental justice concerns by facili-
tating understanding and problem
solving; to build the capacity of
the community to address envi-
ronmental issues; to use the
project to develop a case study to
benefit other communities en-
gaged in similar activity; and, to
find more effective ways to
support community-based efforts.
A framework for the Community
Based Environmental Justice
D
CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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I
General
Partnership was developed in
May 1996, and the South Balti-
more area was selected as the
first partnership. All sectors of
the community will be involved
in the partnership, including
residents and community lead-
ers, non-profit organizations,
schools, churches, government,
businesses, and other organiza-
tions. EPA's tasks in the partner-
ship are as follows:
• Developing and sharing an
environmental profile to
provide a thorough under-
standing of the environment;
• Setting up an environmental
action agenda leading to a
consensus approach to ad-
dressing the priorities in the
agenda; and
• Implementing agreed upon
solutions, using the consensus
approach model, to make
definable and concrete im-
provements in the local South
Baltimore community.
The project's true success will
be seen through the long-term
potential for building the ability
of the community to address
local environmental concerns.
In May 1996, participants met
with the mayor of Baltimore to
discuss the project concept and
feasibility, and received his
acknowledgement of the
project's importance. A public
meeting was held in July 1996,
with plans to get underway in
the Fall.
OPPT staff hope this project will
serve as a model for other
communities, headquarters
offices, regional offices, and
states to replicate and learn
from. The project is expected to
generate a description of meth-
ods used to identify community
environmental concerns, a
compilation of environmental
education materials, and a guide
for community priority setting
and for developing implementa-
tion plans.
For further information, please
contact Hank Topper, (202) 260-
6750.
EPA and Dow Corning Sign Formal
Agreement Covering Six Siloxanes
On April 9, 1996, OPPT Director
William Sanders and Deputy
Director Joe Carra signed a
formal Product Stewardship
Program "Memorandum of
Understanding" (MOU) with the
Dow Corning Corporation
covering six siloxanes. The six
chemicals are representative of a
broad class of siloxanes which
have widespread use in a vari-
ety of industrial and consumer
applications.
Under the Siloxane MOU, Dow
Corning will voluntarily under-
take various activities important
to OPPT's goals, such as chemi-
cal testing, pollution prevention,
waste minimization, exposure
reduction, and hazard/risk
information communication. The
MOU also contains provisions
for comprehensive animal
toxicity testing and exposure
monitoring. The cost of the
animal toxicity testing program
alone is estimated at about $30
million and will be completed
over the next several years.
The Siloxane MOU reflects
OPPT's continuing efforts to use
the TSCA Chemical Testing
Program to achieve document-
able progress in important
mission-related areas. The
Siloxane MOU also affirms Dow
Coming's stated commitment to
develop and implement its
Siloxane Product Stewardship
Program so as to help "ensure
protection of health and the
environment for people, regard-
less of race, ethnic background,
or socioeconomic status."
For more information, contact
Dave Williams at EPA, (202)
260-3468.
VOL17/N0.1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
Design for the Environment
Cleaner Technologies Substitutes
Assessment: Lithographic Blanket Washes
By James Rea and Karen
Seek, DfE Program
In the lithographic printing
industry, chemical formulations
used to clean blanket cylinders
on printing presses, or "blanket
washes," can pose a threat to
both workers and the environ-
ment. Replacing a potentially
hazardous blanket- wash with a
less hazardous alternative can
be an effective way to improve
a facility's environmental perfor-
mance, worker safety, and cost
efficiency. Most smaller litho-
graphic printing facilities, how-
ever, do not have the time or
resources to research alternative
blanket washes.
Recognizing this problem, EPA
and members of the lithographic
printing industry joined forces
to form the Design for the
Environment (DfE) Lithography
Project. Project partners devel-
oped a systematic methodology
to evaluate 37 different commer-
cially available blanket washes
according to their environmental
and human health risk, perfor-
mance, and cost considerations.
The combined results of these
evaluations are compiled in the
project's draft report, Cleaner
Technologies Substitutes Assess-
ment (CTSA): Lithographic
Blanket Washes.
The CTSA lists the chemicals
used in various blanket washes
and their properties; hazardous
chemicals are noted, as are
relevant federal environmental
and safety regulations. Perfor-
mance information included in
the CTSA was gathered through
laboratory tests and field dem-
onstrations. The laboratory tests,
conducted by the Graphic Arts
Technical Foundation, focus on
both the physical properties and
the effectiveness of each blanket
wash. Only those blanket
washes which met minimum
performance standards were
used in the field demonstrations.
Volunteer facilities tested these
blanket washes in their shops
for one week. During this time,
press operators were asked to
record the amount of product
used, the length of time needed
to clean the press, and their
opinion of how well the product
worked each time they used it,
compared to a commonly-used
blanket wash.
Cost analyses of each blanket
wash in the CTSA consider
purchase price of the blanket
wash, costs related to other
materials needed, and labor
hours required to use the blan-
ket wash. Waste disposal, a
potentially costly factor, is also
considered. In addition, energy
consumed in the use of each
blanket wash is examined.
The information presented in
the CTSA can help lithographers
make more effective choices as
they seek to reduce risks to
human health and the environ-
ment. The DfE Lithography
Project is currently developing
shorter outreach documents
based on the CTSA. These
simple, action-oriented bulletins
are tailored to the information
needs of printers.
To obtain a copy of the CTSA or
other DfE products, or for more
information about the Lithogra-
phy Project, contact the Pollu-
tion Prevention Information
Clearinghouse (PPIC), tel: (202)
260-1023, fax.- (202) 260-0178,
E-mail: ppic@epamail.epa.gov
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CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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I
Pollution Prevention
1996 Pollution Prevention Trade Association Meeting
For a day and a half in June,
144 attendees converged on the
headquarters of the Chemical
Manufacturer's Association
(CMA) in Arlington, VA for the
1996 Pollution Prevention Trade
Association Symposium. Co-
sponsored by CMA and EPA, the
conference was coordinated by
the Pollution Prevention Trade
Association Workgroup, a group
of about 30 trade association
staff who are committed to
helping trade associations
promote pollution prevention.
The focus of the meeting was
on pollution prevention models
that trade associations could
take back to their members.
Dr. Lynn Goldman, Assistant
Administrator for EPA's Office of
Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, opened the
meeting with a talk on moving
toward a performance-based
system of environmental protec-
tion based on pollution preven-
tion. Topics intended to help
trade associations justify pollu-
tion prevention initiatives in-
cluded a panel on making
pollution prevention cost effec-
tive, and a case study on "sell-
ing" pollution prevention
partnerships.
Attendees represented over 50
different trade associations and
several individual companies, as
well as federal agencies, state
governments, EPA Regional
offices, press, and even a for-
eign government. An informa-
tion fair was held in conjunction
with the symposium, where
participants could meet each
other and learn about various
trade association and federal
pollution prevention programs.
The Pollution Prevention Trade
Association Workgroup has
produced an evolving document
which details the pollution
prevention resources available
from trade associations, and a
monthly informational forum
known as the "Breakfast Club."
The next Symposium will be
held in the Spring of 1997, with
a tentative focus on technology
transfer — spotlighting the
pollution prevention resources
available to trade associations
and helping them learn how
they can serve as a technology
center for their members.
For more information, contact
Leah Yasenchak at (202) 260-
7854 or at "Yasenchak.Leah®
epamail.gov".
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VOL 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
EPA Moves to Ensure Certified Help
for Home Hazards from Lead-Based Paint
On August 27, 1996, EPA an-
nounced new requirements to
ensure that the American public
has access to well-trained and
qualified professionals who can
identify and address lead-based
paint hazards in homes.
The 1992 Residential Lead-based
Paint Hazard Reduction Act
(Title X) created a national
approach addressing lead-based
paint hazards in housing. Ap-
proximately three-quarters of
the nation's housing built before
1978 (approximately 64 million
homes) contains some lead-
based paint. When properly
maintained and managed, this
paint poses little risk. If improp-
erly maintained, however, lead
from paint in poor condition,
contaminated household dust
from cracking, peeling paint,
and lead-contaminated soil can
create significant health hazards,
especially to children under the
age of six. Over time, low-level
exposure to lead from paint,
dust, and soil can cause a range
of health problems including
permanent damage to the brain,
nervous system and kidneys.
Because of its effects on fetal
development, lead exposure can
also be harmful to pregnant
women and women of child-
bearing age.
Recent data show that approxi-
mately 1.7 million children have
elevated blood levels, due
primarily to exposure to lead-
based paint hazards. Most of
these children are in lower
income, minority, urban areas
where lead-based paint tends to
be in poorer condition.
The new requirements will
ensure that professionals in four
related fields receive training in
lead-based paint identification
and abatement methods, that
training programs become
accredited, and that lead profes-
sionals are certified. The regula-
tions also establish work
practice standards for lead-
based paint activities and a
process by which states, Native
American tribes and U.S. territo-
ries may seek approval from
EPA to administer programs.
The new rule applies to indi-
viduals or firms offering profes-
sional services in the following
disciplines:
• Inspectors who examine
homes for the presence of
lead-based paint;
• Risk assessors who evaluate
homes for lead-based paint
hazards;
• Workers and supervisors
who perform abatements to
permanently eliminate lead-
based paint from homes; and
• Project designers who plan
abatement activities.
The rule requires these profes-
sionals to be trained by accred-
ited training providers and to be
certified by the state or the
federal government to perform
these activities. Work practice
standards are also being estab-
lished to ensure that lead-based
paint inspection, risk assess-
ments, and abatements are
performed safely, reliably and
effectively. The program does
not, however, require
homeowners to have their
homes inspected or abated.
States, Native American tribes,
and U.S. territories will have
two years to apply to EPA for
program approval. If they do
not, EPA will administer the
remaining programs. EPA will
•continue to work cooperatively
with states, tribes, and territories
in developing their programs.
The Agency has awarded $37
million in grants over the past
three years to aid states, tribes,
and territories for the purposes
of assessing lead-based paint
problems and to develop the
necessary infrastructure to
manage this program. Since
1991, EPA has provided funds to
six regional lead training centers
to train contractors to conduct
lead-based paint activities safely,
reliably and effectively.
EPA's certification and accredita-
tion program was developed
Certified Help continued on page 16
m
CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
Preventing Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Exposure Starts with Informed Families
In a press conference on March
6, 1996, EPA Administrator Carol
Browner and HUD Secretary
Henry Cisneros announced the
joint release of the Lead-Based
Paint Notification and Disclosure
Rule. Joined at the podium by
Art Godi, the President of the
National Association of Realtors,
and Margaret Souser, a promi-
nent lead-poisoning prevention
advocate, the two Agency heads
praised the new program for
empowering parents with impor-
tant lead poisoning prevention
information. Browner noted:
"Today's action is an important
step forward in two areas of
critical concern to the Clinton
Administration: protecting the
public from serious health
threats, and arming the public
with the information they need
to protect themselves. The public
has a right to know about toxic
hazards in the community."
The new disclosure rule is one
of several EPA regulatory man-
dates under Title X of the 1992
Housing and Community Devel-
opment Act that develop the
nation's infrastructure for man-
aging lead-based paint hazards.
Under the rule, home sellers
and landlords must disclose
known lead-based paint and
lead-based paint hazards before
sale or lease of older (pre-1978)
housing. Sellers and landlords
must also provide the buyer or
renter with a government pam-
phlet on lead exposure preven-
tion and any available reports
on lead in hazards in the home.
Homebuyers are also entitled to
a 10-day opportunity to have
Under the rule, home
sellers and landlords
must disclose known
lead-based paint and
lead-based paint hazards
before sale or lease of
older housing.
the home tested for lead. Under
the law, agents share responsi-
bility for ensuring compliance
with the disclosure require-
ments. The new requirements
take effect on September 1 for
owners of five or more dwelling
units, and on December 1 for
owners of four or fewer units.
Most transactions to sell or lease
public or private housing built
before 1978 are covered by the
new program. Excepted housing
includes dwellings with no
bedrooms, housing reserved for
the elderly, and housing re-
served for the handicapped over
6 years of age. The rule further
exempts the following transac-
tions: (1) rentals in housing that
is "lead-based paint free," as
determined by a state-certified
inspector, (2) short-term rentals
(rentals limited to 100-days or
less), (3) foreclosure sales, and
(4) lease renewals where disclo-
sure has already occurred.
At the press conference, Secre-
tary Cisneros emphasized that
the rule took a common-sense
approach to giving families
needed information without
interfering with housing industry
practice or the availability of
affordable homes. The rule does
not require any testing or haz-
ard reduction efforts, leaving all
hazard management decisions to
the informed owners or occu-
pants of the housing. Further,
the negotiating parties have
considerable flexibility as to
how to work disclosure into the
flow of the sales or rental
transaction.
Release of the final rule follows
a 14-month effort to analyze and
address over 200 comments on
the proposed rule which was
published on November 2, 1994.
Commenters included states,
localities, real estate groups,
banking groups, environmental
and public interest groups, and
other interested parties. Based
Expotun continued on next page
VOL. 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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I
Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
Exposure
From previous page
on their input, EPA and HUD
made numerous revisions to the
rule, building in flexibility for
states with existing or planned
disclosure programs. States can
now seek approval of their state
materials as substitutes for the
federal program. State disclosure
forms that contain the necessary
disclosure elements can also be
used to meet federal require-
ments.
The March 6 announcement
marks the beginning of a con-
certed outreach effort by the
two agencies to raise public
awareness about the importance
of lead-based paint disclosure,
lead-based paint exposure
prevention, and safe and effec-
tive lead-based paint hazard
management. Announcement of
the rule was covered in most
major newspapers, and many
local papers and broadcast
media outlets. EPA is conducting
mailouts to key leaders in state
and local government, industry,
and non-profit organizations.
Certified Help
From page 14
with input from states already
administering this type of pro-
gram, as well as from states and
tribes seeking approval from
EPA. These requirements
strengthen the national infra-
structure for the development of
a trained workforce and provide
protection to consumers who
seek to obtain these services.
For More Information
Copies of the rule, pamphlet, and supporting documents are
available through a variety of sources:
• For a copy of Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,
the sample disclosure forms, or the rule, call the National
Lead Information Clearinghouse (NLIC) at (800) 424-
LEAD, or TDD (800) 526-5456 for the hearing impaired. You
may also send your request by fax to (202) 659-1192 or by
Internet E-mail to ehc@cais.com. Visit the NLIC on the
Internet at http://www.nsc.org/nsc/ehc/ehc.html.
• Bulk copies of the pamphlet are available ($26.50 for 50
copies) from the Government Printing Office (GPO) at (202)
512-1800. Refer to the complete title or GPO stock number
#055-000-00507-9. You may reproduce the pamphlet, for
use or distribution, if the text and graphics are reproduced
in full. Camera-ready copies of the pamphlet are available
from the National Lead Information Clearinghouse.
• For specific questions about lead-based paint and lead-
based paint hazards, call the National Lead Information
Clearinghouse.
• The EPA pamphlet and rule are available electronically and
may be accessed through the Internet as follows:
Gopher: gopher.epa.gov:70/l 1/Offices/PestPreventToxic/
Toxic/lead_pm
WWW: http://www.epa. gov/docs/lead_pm
http://www.hud.gov
Dial up: (919)558-0335
FTP: ftp.epa.gov (7b login, type "anonymous." Your
password is your Internet E-mail address)
CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
Lead Environmental Justice Initiative:
Graduation Day for Pilot Training Class
This past Spring, a milestone
was achieved in a pilot program
to train unemployed people in
lead abatement techniques. The
origin of the program came in
November 1993, when EPA's
Administrator met with the
Secretaries of the Departments
of Health and Human Services
and Housing and Urban Devel-
opment to discuss various
projects that could reduce or
eliminate lead exposures to the
public. Over the following two
years, staff from EPA, HUD, and
HHS cooperated in the planning
of one of those efforts: a pilot
program entitled the Lead
Environmental Justice Initiative:
Community-Based Lead Abate-
ment Demonstration Project.
The project offered state, local,
or tribal governments the oppor-
tunity to enter into partnerships
with non-profit, community-
based organizations through
federal grant assistance. The
partnerships would be respon-
sible for planning and imple-
menting community-based lead
education/outreach, environ-
mental lead monitoring, lead
abatement technical training,
and job creation activities.
One of the six pilot program
grants was awarded to Philadel-
phia in September 1994. On
March 1, 1996, the first class of
Philadelphia trainees — made
up of unemployed or under-
employed residents of a
Germantown neighborhood —
graduated in a ceremony at
LaSalle University. The highly
motivated trainees (eleven men
and four women) were the
recipients of an intensive,
eleven week technical lead
abatement training and "life-
skills" course administered by
the Philadelphia Opportunities
Industrialization Center. Nearly
all of those selected for the
training made it through the
course. All of the trainees who
completed the course passed the
difficult certification test pro-
vided by the State of New Jersey
(in comparison, only about 60%
of test takers from the general
population pass similar testing)
and one of the trainees received
a perfect score.
The licensed trainees are now
performing a limited number of
lead abatement activities in their
neighborhood. They will also be
enlisted in community demon-
strations to show parents how
they can take a few simple
measures to prevent lead poi-
soning in their children.
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VOL 17 / NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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Lead, Asbestos, PCBs
PCB Rules Revised to Allow Import for Disposal
EPA has issued a final rule
under Section 6(e)(l) of TSCA to
allow the import of polychlori-
nated biphenyls (PCBs) at
concentrations of 50 ppm or
greater for disposal. The rule
makes the PCB import regula-
tions more consistent with the
regulation of hazardous waste
imports under international
agreements and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act.
The rule was published in the
Federal Register on March 18,
1996 (61 FR 11096), and went
into effect the same day.
Section 6(e)(l) allows EPA to
regulate the disposal of PCBs,
including those imported for
disposal. Since May 1, 1980, U.S.
borders have been closed to the
import of PCBs at concentra-
tions of 50 ppm or greater for
disposal. In a December 6, 1994
proposal on the PCB Disposal
Amendments, EPA solicited
comment on allowing imports to
occur (59 FR 62816-62817). This
year's final rule amended the
PCB regulations at 40 CFR Part
761, adding a new Subpart F
which allows imports.
This rule allows the import of
PCB waste for disposal at con-
centrations of 50 ppm or greater
with 45-day advance notification
to EPA. Importers must identify
the parties involved, the types
of waste, the source and move-
ment of the waste, and disposal
plans. The importer must accept
all financial liability for the
waste. Importers must re-notify
EPA annually, or before con-
ducting activities that deviate
from the notice.
All existing TSCA regulations
apply to imported PCB waste;
i.e, manifesting, packaging,
storage, disposal, and record-
keeping. All imported PCBs
must be disposed of in facilities
approved by EPA for the de-
struction of PCBs. PCB waste
imports will also be subject to
all applicable federal and state
requirements and international
agreements.
The new rule also allows the
following imports of PCBs for
disposal without prior notifica-
tion: (1) import of limited
quantities of PCB waste samples
for analysis and disposal re-
search and (2) "import" from
U.S. territories outside U.S.
customs territory. EPA retains
the existing provisions that
allow the import and export of
PCBs for disposal at concentra-
tions less than 50 ppm without
restriction.
The rule will benefit the United
States by encouraging the safe
removal of PCBs from areas
near U.S. borders as well as
other areas, without increasing
the risk of injury to health or
the environment in the United
States.
Copies of the final rule may be
obtained by calling the TSCA
Hotline at (202) 554-1404.
1
CHEMICALS IN PROGRESS
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I
Resources
Register of Lists
The Register of Lists (RoL) is an
information system that tracks
chemicals regulated by EPA.
Useful both to EPA regulatory
staff and those subject to EPA
regulations, the RoL provides
information on which chemicals
are included on each list, which
lists contain a given chemical,
statutory/regulatory citations for
listings, and program office
contacts for more information.
The RoL is updated semi-annu-
ally; currently it contains 33 EPA
lists with over 3,500 chemicals
(and over 10,700 associated
synonyms). For additional
information, contact Linda
Goodman, the RoL Systems
Manager, at (202) 260-1521.
OPPT Annual
Report
The first Annual Report of the
Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics is now publicly
available. The report highlights
OPPT activities during FY 1995
and may be obtained by calling
the TSCA Hotline at (202) 554-
1404 or by faxing a request to
202-554-5603.
1994 TRI Data
From page 3
toxic materials continues to
increase."
"Where there is room for con-
cern," she added, "is that more
waste was generated by indus-
try in 1994 than in previous
years, and projections suggest
that trend may continue
through 1996. Although the
downward trends in releases
into the environment mean
much of the waste is being
well-managed, the growth in
waste production underscores
an ongoing need for more
pollution prevention strategies
and cleaner technologies."
Copies of the 1994 data are
available from EPA's Emergency
Planning and Community Right-
to-Know Hotline, 401 M Street
SW, Washington, D.C. 20460,
tel: 800-535-0202, TDD 800-
553-7672.
Chemical Use
From page 3
products and waste; and toxic
chemicals that leave the facility.
This information would provide
the public with a more compre-
hensive picture of industrial
environmental performance and
toxic chemical releases in local
communities.
Copies of the ANPR and other
information can be obtained
from EPA's Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know
Hotline at 401 M St. S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460 or by
calling 1-800-535-0202, TDD 1-
800-553-7672. Electronic copies
are available at http://
www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri.
Comments must be received by
EPA on or before December 30,
1996. Written comments should
be submitted in triplicate to:
OPPT Docket, TSCA Document
Receipt Office (7407), U.S. EPA,
"Putting information
about local pollution into
the hands of the public is
the single most effective,
common-sense tool
available for protecting
public health and
environment."
EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner
401 M St. S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20460. Electronic com-
ments may be submitted via
oppt.ncic@epamail.epa.gov.
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VOL. 177 NO. 1 SUMMER/FALL 1996
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