The High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program began in 1998 by encouraging industry to sponsor development of critical risk screening data (Screening Information Data Sets (SIDS) for HPV chemicals. HPV chemicals are produced or imported at a level of 1,000,000 lbs or more per year and make up approximately 95% of total U.S. chemical production by volume. EPA and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are currently assessing the HPV Challenge data to develop chemical Hazard Characterization reports. EPA follows up with human and environmental Exposure Characterization reports (supported in part by information collected via Inventory Update Reporting) and chemical Fate Characterization reports, leading to Risk Characterization reports that support Risk-Based Prioritizations (RBPs) made by senior program managers. RBPs identify the risk management actions, if any, deemed necessary to ensure that identified risks are adequately addressed.
 
In August 2007, a landmark agreement was reached with Canada and Mexico under the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) for North America to ensure the safe manufacture and use of industrial chemicals. Under this agreement, EPA is expected assess and take necessary follow-up actions on close to 3,000 HPV chemicals (described above) and close to 4,000 * Moderate Production Volume (MPV) chemicals. MPV chemicals are those chemicals which are produced or imported between 25,000 lbs and 1,000,000 lbs per year. MPV assessments focus primarily on hazard, leading to Hazard-Based Prioritizations (HBPs), due to the more limited availability of exposure data for these smaller volume chemicals. The end products or prioritization reports are tracked by these QMR measures. The last element of the HPV assessment/ prioritization making process is tracked by the first element of this QMR measure. The last element of the MPV process, development of HBPs, is tracked by the second element of the measure.
 
 
 
* Actual statistics based on 2006 Inventory Update Reporting are still under development.
 
 
 

http://www.epa.gov/hpv/index.htm
http://www.epa.gov/hpv/pubs/general/sppframework.htm
http://iaspub.epa.gov/oppthpv/hpv_hc_characterization.get_report?doctype=1  
 




Linkages to Strategic Plan:

Goal 4, Objective 1, Sub-Objective 1: Reduce Chemical Risks
 
Chemical Risk Review and Reduction Program Project
 
Two measures will appear in the FY 2008 Performance and Accountability Report, FY 09 President's Budget, and on the Program Assessment Rating Tool's website http://www.expectmore.gov :
1) Annual number of MPV chemicals with Hazard-based Prioritizations completed; and
2) Annual number of HPV chemicals with Risk Based Prioritizations completed.
 

The provision of quarterly updates on progress in meeting Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) commitments has helped inform management choices through the implementation of the Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP). Officially announced in March 2008, the program requires collaboration across several divisions within OPPT in the development of complementary and progressive outputs, ultimately leading to prioritization documents for High and Moderate Production Volume Chemicals (HPVs and MPVs). Additional emphasis has been placed on tracking and work flow management in order to increase outputs to the extent feasible based on available resources and FTEs. Concrete steps have been taken which include the implementation of a Share-point document database and Focus meetings to facilitate coordination. OPPTS is conducting extensive dialogue with key stakeholders following Administrator Johnson's March 18 announcement of the ChAMP program to achieve President Bush's SPP commitments and additional possible EPA initiatives. Input from stakeholders, particularly comments on prioritization documents, combined with experience gained from pilot stages, contributed to streamlining internal processes used to develop Risk-Based Prioritizations.
 

As part of the Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP), EPA reports on ''risk-based prioritizations'' for High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals, and will also report on hazard-based prioritizations for Moderate Production Volume (MPV) chemicals.