CESCO Toxic Substances & Chemical Management (TSCA) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under TSCA Section 5, which form must manufacturers submit to the EPA before producing or importing a new chemical substance?
- Premanufacture Notice (PMN) (Correct answer)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Chemical Release Inventory (CRI)
- Toxic Use Reduction Plan (TURP)
Correct answer: Premanufacture Notice (PMN)
TSCA Section 5 requires submission of a Premanufacture Notice (PMN) to the EPA at least 90 days before producing or importing a new chemical.
Question 2: Which TSCA section gives EPA the authority to require testing of existing chemical substances when data are insufficient to evaluate risk?
- Section 4 (Correct answer)
- Section 6
- Section 8
- Section 12
Correct answer: Section 4
TSCA Section 4 authorizes the EPA to issue test rules requiring manufacturers and processors to conduct health and environmental testing on existing chemicals.
Question 3: The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act significantly amended TSCA in which year?
- 2016 (Correct answer)
- 2010
- 2012
- 2020
Correct answer: 2016
The Lautenberg Act was signed into law in 2016, representing the first major overhaul of TSCA since its original enactment in 1976.
Question 4: Under TSCA Section 8(e), manufacturers must immediately notify the EPA if they obtain information indicating a chemical presents a 'substantial risk.' What is the notification timeframe?
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 15 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
TSCA Section 8(e) requires notification to EPA within 30 days of obtaining information that a chemical substance presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment.
Question 5: Which chemical was specifically banned by TSCA and is the subject of ongoing EPA phase-out rules for existing uses?
- Asbestos (Correct answer)
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
Correct answer: Asbestos
Asbestos was addressed in landmark TSCA rulemaking; the Lautenberg-era rules finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos in most remaining uses in 2024.
Question 6: Under TSCA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule, manufacturers must report production volumes to EPA on what cycle?
- Every 4 years (Correct answer)
- Annually
- Every 2 years
- Every 10 years
Correct answer: Every 4 years
The CDR rule requires manufacturers and importers to report chemical production volume and use data to EPA every four years.
CESCO Toxic Substances & Chemical Management (TSCA) 1
Under TSCA Section 5, which form must manufacturers submit to the EPA before producing or importing a new chemical substance?