EDF requests extension of comment period on TSCA Alternative Testing Strategic Plan due to key document missing from docket

Jennifer McPartland, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.  Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Lead Senior Scientist.

Last night EDF submitted a request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the public comment period on its draft Alternative Testing Methods Strategic Plan under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

EPA held a public meeting about the draft Strategic Plan on April 10, 2018.  At that meeting, Dr. Nancy Beck prominently highlighted an analysis that EPA had received from a stakeholder that she described as robust and extensive, and her description of the analysis suggested that it has or could significantly influence EPA’s consideration of the issues raised by the draft Strategic Plan.  When asked if EPA would make this analysis available to the public, an EPA official stated that it would be made available.  But the analysis has not yet been published to the docket.  The due date for comments on the draft Plan is a week from today, April 26, 2018.

Given the emphasis Dr. Beck placed on the analysis and the apparently extensive nature of it, EDF believes the public should be provided access to the document and ample time to review, and if desired, comment on it.  Hence we have requested that:

1)  EPA publish a copy of the relevant analysis to the docket for the draft Strategic Plan.

2)  EPA extend the public comment period by 30 days after it publishes the relevant analysis in the docket.

Because the deadline is impending, EDF requested that EPA respond to this request within three business days, i.e., by Monday, April 23.

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