Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act

This bill changes how the EPA studies the health risks of chemicals. Instead of one central program doing these studies, the EPA’s program offices would do them using clear, science-based rules and the best available evidence. These offices would set “toxicity values” for chemicals, and when the data support it, include ranges and explain uncertainties. The EPA would keep these results in a chemical assessment database and retain past entries from its earlier system. Every two years, the EPA must certify that these studies followed the required scientific standards .

To avoid duplicated work, the EPA must set up a steering committee to coordinate these studies across its offices. That committee can also consider high-quality assessments from other government agencies or independent scientists. The law directs the EPA to use the best available science, consider all lines of evidence, and make data and methods clear and publicly available as allowed by law. The steering committee must be created within 30 days of the law taking effect, and the EPA’s certification reports start two years after enactment and then every two years .

Key points

• Who is affected: EPA program offices; people and communities concerned about health risks from long-term chemical exposure; other agencies and scientists who produce relevant studies .
• What changes: Risk studies move from the EPA’s IRIS program to the EPA’s program offices; toxicity values (with ranges and uncertainties when supported) are assigned; results are kept in an EPA database; a steering committee coordinates work and can use qualified outside studies; methods must reflect the best available science and be clearly documented .
• When: Committee set up within 30 days of enactment; EPA issues compliance certifications starting two years after enactment and every two years after that .