Toxic Substances Control Act Reform: What's Happening, and What's Next?
Betting on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform before the 2016 presidential election is anything but a sure thing. While most remain optimistic, with each passing day, the window of opportunity is narrowed. One possibility is that some version of reform will be passed, requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grapple with the demands of implementation. Another possibility is that TSCA reform is not enacted, and life as we know it goes on. Either scenario poses challenges, opportunities, and risks for EPA, the industrial chemical community, their downstream customers, and all of those impacted by chemical regulation. On November 19, 2015, the Environmental Law Institute convened a panel of TSCA practitioners and experts to discuss these issues. This Dialogue presents a transcript of the discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.