Toxic Substances

  • Regulatory Background

    The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976 to regulate commerce and protect human health and the environment by requiring testing of and establishing use restrictions on certain potentially hazardous chemicals. Unlike many environmental statutes that focus only on waste management, TSCA grants EPA authority to regulate the entire life cycle of a chemical, from manufacture to disposal.

    TSCA contains four titles:

    Title I - Control of Toxic Substances
    Title II - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response
    Title III - Indoor Radon Abatement
    Title IV - Lead Exposure Reduction

    Under Title I, EPA banned the manufacture (production and importation) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and promulgated rules on PCB disposal and marking. Additional rules were developed on inspections, storage, and use of transformers.

  • MSU Programs
    MSU's current TSCA program includes the proper compliance and management of PCB Transformers, sampling, and documentation.
  • Regulatory Reference

Environment