The TSCA Interagency Testing Committee, 1977 to 1992: Creation, Structure, Functions and Contributions

The Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) was created by the U.S. Congress in 1976 under Section 4(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) as an independent advisory committee to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ITC is responsible for establishing the TSCA Section 4(e) Priority Testing List, revising the Priority Testing List at least every 6 months, identifying and coordinating the Federal Government's data needs for chemicals and chemical groups on the Priority Testing List, and designating the highest priority chemicals and chemical groups on the Priority Testing List to the EPA Administrator for testing under TSCA Section 4(a). Under TSCA, the EPA Administrator must publish ITC Reports containing revisions to the Priority Testing List in the Federal Register, take actions on the ITC's designated chemicals and chemical groups and publish those actions in the Federal Register.

From 1977 to 1992 the ITC designated 106 chemicals, 20 chemical groups and 3454 tests for priority testing consideration by the EPA Administrator. During this time the ITC also recommended 29 chemicals, 24 chemical groups and 2059 tests. The ITC designated or recommended most of these chemicals and chemical groups because ITC's Statutory and Liaison organizations had concerns about the adequacy of test data for these chemicals or to meet the data needs of the Federal Government through ITC's Statutory and Liaison organizations. ITC serves as a national clearinghouse for testing recommendations on TSCA-regulable chemicals to meet and coordinate the Federal Government's data needs for these chemicals.

In response to the ITC actions, the EPA and the U.S. chemical industry have made many contributions related to chemical testing. The EPA has published about 200 Federal Register notices in response to ITC actions and has reviewed hundreds of test protocols and data submissions. The U.S. chemical industry has developed over 900 tests and has submitted about 25,000 unpublished health and safety studies in response to the ITC's testing recommendations. In addition, the EPA and the U.S. chemical industry have convened numerous meetings to discuss test protocols, data submissions, pollution prevention, etc. The U.S. chemical industry through trade organizations such as the Chemical Manufactures Association and the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association have organized numerous panels and task groups that have addressed the ITC's testing recommendations. As a result of EPA and U.S. chemical industry responses, testing was ongoing, proposed, under consideration, required or voluntarily conducted for 82 percent of the chemicals and 88 of the chemical groups designated or recommended by the ITC from 1977 to 1992.