	Introduction

The useful properties of thousands of chemicals provide a wide range of benefits to American consumers and bolster the U.S. economy. These benefits occasionally come with a price, however, as exposure to certain substances, such as lead, pesticides, or asbestos, may lead to adverse effects on human health or the environment. Concerns about the effects of chemicals, as well as regulation of chemicals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), continue to emerge, prompting additional congressional consideration. This report briefly describes selected legislative issues related to chemical production, processing, distribution, and use (including past use)—activities that generally are regulated under chemical laws implemented by EPA. For example,
the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) directs EPA to regulate industrial chemical processes and interstate commerce in bulk chemicals; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) mandates regulation of the sale and use of chemicals intended to control pests in agriculture and other applications; and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) addresses regulation of hazardous chemicals in storage or routinely or accidentally released to the environment. Key issues include
the adequacy of TSCA for regulating potentially hazardous chemicals; whether to expand information disclosure requirements under various laws; how to safeguard the integrity of scientific advice; overlapping statutory requirements for control of pesticides applied to surface water; whether to provide authority to implement international treaties; and regulation of contractors working in older homes that contain lead-based paint. Other critics of TSCA have proposed amending the statute to provide EPA with more specific authority to manage chemical risks. Still others would prefer a very targeted approach to TSCA reform, which would leave most of the statute intact. In the 113 th Congress, H.R. 1921 , the FRAC Act, and Section 301 of S. 332 would require a person conducting hydraulic fracturing operations to disclose to the state (or to the EPA Administrator if he or she has primary enforcement responsibility in such state) the chemicals intended for use in underground injections before the commencement of such operations and the chemicals actually used after the end of such operations, and would require a state or the Administrator to make such disclosure available to the public. H.R. The proposed amendment would require that "the scientific and technical points of view represented on and the functions to be performed by the Board are fairly balanced among the members of the Board." Many criticize IRIS, however, for being scientifically out of date and incomplete. 112-74 , which directed EPA to "incorporate, as appropriate" the NRC recommendations into the IRIS risk assessment process. In addition, EPA was required to include documentation describing how those recommendations were addressed in draft assessments released in FY2012, and to contract with the National Academies to conduct up to three reviews of IRIS assessments that EPA proposed to make final, including an assessment of inorganic arsenic. Overlapping Authorities for Pesticide Discharges to Water

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires EPA to regulate the sale and use of pesticides in the United States through registration and labeling and to restrict usage of pesticides as necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on people and the environment, taking into account the costs and benefits of various pesticide uses. The 113 th Congress may continue to examine apparent overlapping jurisdiction between provisions of FIFRA and the Clean Water Act (CWA). In spite of EPA's general permit in response to the 2009 court ruling, Congress has considered legislation to affirm that a CWA permit is not required for use of FIFRA-approved pesticides. In the 112 th Congress, the House passed H.R. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the bill without amendment in June 2011. Language identical to H.R. 872 is included in the 2013 farm bill legislation ( H.R. 1947 ) approved by the House Agriculture Committee. 935 , S. 175 , and S. 802 ). International Treaties

Some older pesticides are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are global contaminants of concern to many nations. S. 696 in the 113 th Congress would add a new section to TSCA authorizing actions that would allow U.S. implementation of the three international agreements. A bill introduced in the 113 th Congress, H.R. 1282 , would extend the categories of eligible grant recipients to include families living in all housing, including efficiency apartments, and to streamline paperwork requirements, making it easier to apply for a grant.
The useful properties of chemicals provide many benefits to consumers and bolster the U.S. economy, but these benefits may come with a price, as exposure to certain chemicals can lead to adverse effects on human health or the environment. This report briefly describes selected issues related to regulation of chemicals in commerce by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that are of potential interest to the 113th Congress.
Concerns about the complexity, cost, and delays in regulating chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) have prompted proposals (such as S. 1009 in the 113th Congress) to amend the 1976 statute. Some would provide EPA with specific authority and mandates to ensure adequate management of chemical risks. Others would amend particular provisions, leaving most of the law intact. TSCA reform is a high priority for some in the 113th Congress.
Another issue is whether to expand or restrict EPA's authority to require disclosure of chemical information under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) or TSCA. Bills in the 113th Congress, H.R. 1921, the FRAC Act, and Section 301 of S. 332 would require oil and gas producers to disclose identities of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Other administrative and legislative initiatives also would mandate more public disclosure.
The integrity of scientific advice provided to EPA may be another salient issue. Some Members of Congress have expressed concern about the composition of EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB). H.R. 1422 would require a rebalancing of "the scientific and technical points of view represented." EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) has been criticized by some for being out of date and incomplete, while the process of conducting chemical risk assessments is said to be slow. The National Research Council (NRC) made recommendations to improve IRIS reports in 2011, and Congress directed EPA to "incorporate, as appropriate," NRC recommendations and to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct several reviews of IRIS assessments, including one for inorganic arsenic.
Pesticides issues generally are resolved under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which directs EPA to regulate the sale and use of pesticides through registration of products. The 112th Congress was interested in apparent overlap between FIFRA and the Clean Water Act (CWA). At issue is whether FIFRA is sufficient alone to ensure protection of water quality or whether certain pesticide applications require a CWA permit. In response to a court order, EPA issued a general permit requiring applicators to minimize pesticide discharges to waters. House-passed H.R. 872 in the 112th Congress would have exempted aerial pesticide application activities from water permit requirements. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry approved the bill in June 2011. Language identical to H.R. 872 is included in the 2013 farm bill legislation (H.R. 1947) approved by the House Agriculture Committee, as well as in H.R. 935, S. 175, and S. 802.
Another issue of potential interest is whether to amend both TSCA and FIFRA to accommodate certain international agreements intended to reduce production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) globally. In the 113th Congress, S. 696 would add a new section to TSCA, authorizing actions allowing U.S. implementation of the three international agreements.
Finally, as it considers appropriations, Congress may actively consider what amount of federal grant money should be made available to address lead-based paint hazards in older homes. H.R. 1282 would streamline paperwork requirements, making it easier for people to apply for a grant.