TSCA Modernization Act of 2015
This bill amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to revise regulations on chemicals. TSCA's scope is revised by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate chemicals so that they no longer present unreasonable risks of injury to health or environment instead of requiring the EPA to provide adequate protection against those risks using the least burdensome requirements.
The EPA must conduct and publish a risk evaluation for a chemical if: (1) the EPA determines it may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, or (2) a manufacturer of a chemical requests an evaluation. The EPA must initiate 10 or more risk evaluations in each fiscal year. The EPA is authorized to require testing on a chemical when it is necessary to conduct an evaluation.
If an evaluation determines a chemical will pose an unreasonable risk, the EPA must issue a risk management rule for the chemical. The bill establishes deadlines for conducting and publishing evaluations as well deadlines for publishing risk management rules.
The EPA may grant exemptions from risk management requirements for a specific use of a chemical if: (1) the requirement is not cost-effective with respect to that use; and (2) the specific use is a critical or essential use, or the requirement would significantly disrupt the national economy, national security, or critical infrastructure.
The EPA must: (1) publish a list of certain persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals; (2) designate certain chemicals as PBT chemicals of concern; and (3) promulgate rules with respect to those designated PBTs to reduce likely exposure to the extent practicable.
This bill revises requirements concerning the disclosure of confidential business information, preemption of state law, fees to defray the cost of administering TSCA, and scientific standards and evidence.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-22 | President | Became Public Law No: 114-182. | House floor actions |
| 2016-06-22 | President | Signed by President. | House floor actions |
| 2016-06-14 | Floor | Presented to President. | House floor actions |
| 2016-06-07 | Floor | Message on Senate action sent to the House. | Senate |
| 2016-06-07 | ResolvingDifferences | Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3523) | Senate |
| 2016-06-07 | Floor | Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3511-3525) | Senate |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment. | Senate |
| 2016-05-24 | ResolvingDifferences | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Vote | On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 403 - 12 (Roll no. 238). (text as House agreed with an amendment to the Senate amendment: CR H3007-3025) | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3046-3047) | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the motion and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the motion until a time to be announced. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | ResolvingDifferences | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H3031) | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | ResolvingDifferences | Mr. Shimkus moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment. (consideration: CR H2989-3031; text: CR H2989-3007) | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | MOTION OFFERED - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 742, the Chair recognized Mr. Shimkus for a motion. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Shimkus asked unanimous consent that the question of adopting a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2576 with an amendment may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule XX. Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-24 | Floor | Rule H. Res. 742 passed House. | House floor actions |
| 2016-05-23 | Floor | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 742 Reported to House. Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 897 and the Senate amendment to H.R. 2576. | House floor actions |
| 2015-12-18 | Floor | Message on Senate action sent to the House. | Senate |
| 2015-12-17 | Floor | Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. | Senate |
| 2015-12-17 | Floor | Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8781-8782) | Senate |
| 2015-07-08 | Calendars | Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143. | Senate |
| 2015-06-24 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate. | Senate |
| 2015-06-23 | Vote | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 1 (Roll no. 378). (text: CR H4551-4556) | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4581-4582) | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2576. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4551-4560) | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Floor | Mr. Shimkus moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 131. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-23 | Committee | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-176. | House floor actions |
| 2015-06-03 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 0. | House committee actions |
| 2015-06-03 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2015-06-02 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2015-06-02 | Committee | Committee Hearings Held. | House committee actions |
| 2015-05-26 | IntroReferral | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House floor actions |
| 2015-05-26 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |