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Basic Information
- Risk-Based Prioritization (RBP)
- Hazard-Based Prioritization (HBP)
- Schedule for ChAMP Prioritizations
- Stakeholder Input on Prioritization Process
Overview
The Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP) is broadening EPA's efforts to ensure the safety of existing chemicals by:
- Developing screening-level characterizations for an estimated 6,750 chemicals produced or imported in quantities of 25,000 pounds or more a year.
- Prioritizing the chemicals for the collection of additional data or the consideration of control measures that may be needed to address potential hazard or risk of chemicals.
ChAMP was created initially to implement commitments that the United States made at the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) Leaders Summit, in Montebello, Canada, in August 2007. The United States agreed to complete screening-level chemical prioritizations and initiate action as appropriate on an estimated 6,750 chemicals.
These chemicals include High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals, which are reported under the Toxic Substances Control Act's (TSCA) 2006 Inventory Update Rule (IUR) as being produced or imported in quantities greater than or equal to 1 million pounds a year, and Medium Volume Production (MPV) chemicals, which are reported under the 2006 IUR as being produced or imported in quantities greater than or equal to 25,000 and less than 1 million pounds per year.
The ChAMP effort to complete assessments and initiate appropriate action on these chemicals builds on EPA's prior work under the HPV Challenge Program and the data collected under the 2006 Inventory Update Reporting. Under ChAMP these efforts are extended to assessing MPV chemicals.
Additional enhancements to EPA’s existing chemicals program are also part of ChAMP, including:
- Resetting the TSCA Inventory to more accurately reflect chemicals currently in commerce in the United States, and
- Developing an HPV Challenge-type program for "inorganic" HPV (I-HPV) chemicals, similar to the voluntary HPV Challenge Program for organic chemicals.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has asked that OPPTS develop options to ramp up efforts to assess, prioritize, and take action on existing chemicals, with particular emphasis on protecting children. A determination on next steps on the TSCA reset and the I-HPV program will be made as the agency develops a broader, more vigorous approach on existing chemicals, utilizing the full range of TSCA regulatory tools, to reduce or eliminate risks from chemicals of concern.
Background of Assessing Chemicals Under ChAMP
In 2007, EPA developed procedures for and began developing screening-level hazard characterizations for HPV chemicals. These screening-level hazard characterizations were an “interim” step toward creating risk-based prioritizations and were posted to EPA’s Website to allow stakeholders to review and provide EPA with feedback on the process and the documents.
Based on input received, EPA refined the process for developing hazard characterizations. In 2008, EPA expanded this effort by developing exposure characterizations, risk characterizations and risk-based prioritizations (RBPs) and solicited stakeholder input on these products as well.
Risk-Based Prioritization (RBP)
EPA is developing the risk-based prioritizations (RBPs) for chemicals with hazard data collected through EPA’s HPV Challenge Program or through the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) HPV Programme, 
and exposure and use information collected through EPA's Inventory Update Reporting (IUR).
When EPA develops the risk-based prioritization, the interim screening-level hazard characterization is updated and incorporated into the integrated RBP document. The RBP summarizes basic hazard and exposure information on chemicals, identifies potential risks, notes scientific issues and uncertainties, and indicates the initial priority identified by the Agency for future action, if necessary.
Read more about Risk-Based Priorititzation.
Hazard-Based Prioritization (HBP)
For chemicals without hazard information equivalent to that previously gathered in the HPV Challenge Program or use and exposure information required to be reported under the IUR -– these are primarily MPV chemicals -- EPA is developing hazard-based prioritizations (HBPs). Due to limited use and exposure information available for many MPV chemicals, HBPs are based primarily on hazard; however, prior regulatory or related information are also considered in assigning the HBP. Examples of that information include TSCA Section 5 SNURs and on-going regulatory activities by other agencies.
The HBP evaluation consists of a screening-level hazard characterization and hazard-based prioritization for a chemical or “cluster” of chemicals with similar structures. The HBP identifies the priority of high, medium, or low for gathering additional hazard and/or use and exposure information.
Read more about Hazard-Based Prioritization.
Stakeholder Input on Prioritization Process
Prior to and throughout the development of ChAMP, a variety of stakeholders have provided valuable and insightful comments on both draft and early-process documents prepared by EPA for use in the program. Engagement of these stakeholders was not intended to provide collective group advice or consensus views but rather individual input and advice on EPA's assessment and management program for existing chemicals.
Following review and careful consideration of the input received from these stakeholders, EPA has incorporated many of the changes suggested into both the development process for ChAMP Prioritizations and the individual documents. EPA has prepared a Response to Stakeholder Comments on ChAMP Prioritizations that provides a summary of comments received and a description of how EPA has addressed each issue.
Schedule for ChAMP Prioritizations
EPA began posting both risk- and hazard-based prioritizations in 2008, and this effort will continue for the next several years. EPA prepared lists reflecting its current projection of the chemicals, chemical categories, and chemical clusters for which RBPs or HBPs will be developed during approximately March through September 2009. This projection will be updated periodically to reflect the on-going development of upcoming RBPs and HBPs. The actual schedule for specific chemicals, chemical categories, or chemicals clusters may vary from this initial projection, and changes will be noted in the periodic updates.
Read EPA’s current projection of the chemicals, chemical categories, and chemical clusters for the RBPs (PDF) (5 pp., 26 KB, About PDF) or HBPs (PDF) (3 pp., 47 KB, About PDF) that will be developed during the next six months, beginning April 1, 2009. This projection will be updated periodically to provide a rolling schedule of upcoming RBPs and HBPs. The actual schedule for specific chemicals, chemical categories, or chemicals clusters may vary from this initial projection, and such changes will be noted in the periodic updates.
ChAMP Enhancements
TSCA Inventory Reset
Required under TSCA Section 8(b) and established in 1977, the TSCA Inventory is a list of each chemical substance manufactured, imported, or processed in the United States. Currently, there are approximately 84,000 chemicals listed on the Inventory, but EPA believes that not all of these chemicals are necessarily being produced at a given point in time. EPA is developing the TSCA Inventory Reset as a vehicle to update the TSCA Inventory to more accurately reflect chemicals, in commerce at the time of the update and thus, keep the inventory current as instructed under TSCA section 8(b).
Inorganic HPV Challenge
On December 8, 2008, EPA proposed a phased, multi-year approach to develop and implement an Inorganic HPV Challenge Program similar to the organic chemical High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program, which will provide the Agency, industry, and the public with more complete information on the hazards and risks of inorganic HPV chemicals presently used in U.S. commerce.