On Earth Day last April, Vice President Gore
challenged industry voluntarily to develop health data on the most commonly used
industrial chemicals. In response to this challenge, the Chemical Manufacturers
Association (CMA), the Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. (EDF), and EPA unveiled on October
9, 1998, a "cooperative program" to test for approximately 2,800 of the
"high production volume" (HPV) chemicals. The program is now in effect, and is
expected to be completed by the end of the year 2004, with provisions to ensure progress.
The HPV program is voluntary. Companies that
manufacture program chemicals are invited to sign-up and take responsibility for testing
each of their chemicals voluntarily, although EPA promises issuance of mandatory testing
requirements if voluntary testing does not fulfill its data needs. After the sign-up
period closes, chemicals that are not volunteered are expected to be the subject of
mandatory testing required by EPA. Test results will be available through the Internet.
The name and specific manufacturers/importers who have accepted responsibility for testing
specific chemicals, among other data, will be posted. The chemical industry expects to
spend an estimated $500 million to $700 million.
Copies of the draft EPA document entitled
Chemrtk HPV Voluntary Challenge Chemical List can be found on theEPA website.
