EPA mulls new toxic report requirements

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule requiring electronic reporting of information to the agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Such a requirement would aid the agency in its effort to increase transparency and public access to chemical information to help Americans protect their health and environment, an EPA release said Friday.

Electronic reporting will increase the speed with which the agency can make information available to the public for quick and easier access to chemical information, it said.

"Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is committed to strengthening EPA's chemicals management program and increasing the public's access to chemical information," said Jim Jones, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

"The agency is also committed to reducing reporting burdens and paper-based reporting in favor of electronic reporting."

If the rule is finalized, the EPA said, it will only accept data, reports, and other information submitted through EPA's Central Data Exchange, a centralized portal that enables streamlined, electronic submission of data via the Internet.

The agency said it would be soliciting comments on the proposed rule for 60 days.