WASHINGTON -- The US Senate yesterday unanimously approved a significant overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the EPA's major rule for reporting, recordkeeping and testing of chemicals.

The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.

The House of Representatives approved the bill on May 24.

The new legislation, named for its major sponsor, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, gives the EPA greater authority to identify chemicals as posing a risk, request additional information or testing, and impose restrictions or outright bans.

TSCA was created to give the EPA the authority to require reporting, recordkeeping and testing of chemicals and to restrict the importation, production, use and disposal of substances determined to pose a risk to health or the environment. To date, the EPA has required testing of only a few hundred of the chemicals in use and has encountered significant barriers in attempting to restrict or ban certain chemicals or uses.

Following the Senate vote, IPC issued a statement applauding the vote.

"IPC strongly supported efforts to reform TSCA, which was sorely outdated without any significant updates since 1976 when the law was enacted. IPC specifically led the advocacy effort to reduce the burdens on the byproducts sent for recycling. The inclusion of byproducts sent for recycling language in the bill caps a strategic, multi-year advocacy effort that required sustained engagement with top policymakers by IPC members and staff. The passage of this legislation is an important success for the industry that will be good for the U.S. economy and the environment."

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