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The EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) was formed
in 1977 with the primary responsibility for administering the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA). This Law covers the production and
distribution of commercial and industrial chemicals in the United
States. OPPT has the responsibility for assuring that chemicals made
available for sale and use in the United States, do not pose any
adverse risks to human health or to the environment. OPPT's
responsibility was expanded Still further with the passing of the
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. This act established pollution
prevention as the National policy for controlling industrial pollution
at its source. In addition, OPPT manages the new Chemical
Right-To-Know Initiative, the Design for the Environment (DFE), Green
Chemistry programs and the Lead, Asbestos and Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs) programs.
OPPT's Mission:
We support EPA's mission and in addition our office goals include:
-Promoting pollution prevention as the guiding principle for
controlling industrial pollution;
-Promoting safer chemicals through a combination of regulatory and
voluntary efforts;
-Promoting risk reduction so as to minimize exposure to existing
substances such as lead, asbestos, dioxin, and polychlorinated
biphenyls; and
-Promoting public understanding of risks by providing understandable,
accessible and complete information on chemical risks to the broadest
audience possible.
Website: "http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/"
[Summary provided by the EPA.]
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