Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act
Sponsored By: Representative Biggs (AZ)
Introduced
Summary
Move chemical hazard and dose‑response assessments from EPA’s IRIS program to the relevant EPA program offices. This bill would also set mandatory scientific standards, create a central assessment database, and add a steering committee to prevent duplicated work across offices.
Show full summary
- Families and the public would see assessments that include assigned toxicity values when data support them, plus ranges of point estimates and stated sources of uncertainty to make risk information clearer.
- EPA science and program offices would take over covered assessments that IRIS was conducting and use a new chemical assessment database maintained by the Office of Research and Development to retain and update existing IRIS entries.
- EPA management and outside reviewers would face new coordination and quality rules. A steering committee chaired by the ORD Assistant Administrator with 15 full‑time members would meet at least once per year to avoid duplication. Third‑party assessments would need to meet the bill’s science standards and independent review requirements.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
EPA committee to coordinate chemical reviews
If enacted, EPA would set up a steering committee within 30 days to coordinate chemical hazard and dose‑response work. It would have 15 full‑time EPA staff, include each relevant program and regional office, and be led by the head of EPA’s research office. The group would meet at least once a year, prevent duplicate work, and consider qualified third‑party assessments that meet the bill’s science and review rules.
EPA must certify science standards biennially
If enacted, EPA’s research office would report to Congress every two years, starting two years after enactment. The report would certify that each covered assessment used the bill’s scientific standards.
EPA research spending aligned with needs
If enacted, EPA would have to coordinate research spending tied to regulatory work so it matches program office needs. Spending would also need to align with the Agency’s five‑year research plan.
New rules for EPA chemical risk reviews
If enacted, EPA chemical risk reviews would move from the IRIS program to the relevant program offices when those offices see a need. All covered assessments would have to use best‑available science and the weight of the evidence. Offices would assign toxicity values when data support it, show ranges of risk, and explain uncertainty. EPA’s research office would keep a chemical assessment database, keep all IRIS records at enactment, and update it when toxicity values change. The bill would define what a covered assessment is and which EPA offices count as relevant.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Biggs (AZ)
AZ • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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