You can read about the Obama Administration's plans for reforming TSCA here. US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is quoted in the press release as saying:
“...as more and more chemicals are found in our bodies and the environment, the public is understandably anxious and confused. Many are turning to government for assurance that chemicals have been assessed using the best available science, and that unacceptable risks haven’t been ignored.
Our oversight of the 21st century chemical industry is based on the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act....over the years, not only has TSCA fallen behind the industry it’s supposed to regulate - it’s been proven an inadequate tool for providing the protection against chemical risks that the public rightfully expects.
Today I’m announcing clear Administration principles to guide Congress in writing a new chemical risk management law that will fix the weaknesses in TSCA.”
Risk assessment is becoming a hot topic in mass tort litigation and as a result EPA's 2008 efforts regarding a new risk assessment for asbestos were especially contentious. You can read about the Administration's "Essential Principles" for planned reform here.
