[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 28]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR790.1]

[Page 5-6]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 790--PROCEDURES GOVERNING TESTING CONSENT AGREEMENTS AND TEST RULES--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 790.1  Scope, purpose, and authority.


    (a) This part establishes procedures for gathering information, 
conducting negotiations, and developing and implementing test rules or 
consent agreements on chemical substances and mixtures under section 4 
of TSCA.
    (b) Section 4 of the Act authorizes EPA to require manufacturers and 
processors of chemical substances and mixtures to test these chemicals 
to determine whether they have adverse health or environmental effects. 
Section 4 (a) empowers the Agency to promulgate rules which require such 
testing. In addition, EPA has implied authority to enter into 
enforceable consent agreements requiring testing where they provide 
procedural safeguards equivalent to those that apply where testing is 
conducted by rule.
    (c) EPA intends to use enforceable consent agreements to accomplish 
testing where a consensus exists among EPA, affected manufacturers and/
or processors, and interested members of the public concerning the need 
for and scope of testing. If such a consensus does not exist and the 
Agency believes that it can make the findings specified in section 4(a), 
EPA will initiate proceedings to promulgate test rules which will be 
codified in part 799 of this chapter.

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    (d) Appendix A to this part presents timetables for various steps in 
the evaluation of chemicals under consideration for testing, the 
initiation and completion of negotiations to develop consent agreements, 
and the proposal and promulgation of test rules. All deadlines which are 
imposed by the Act are binding on EPA and will be observed by the 
Agency. The remaining deadlines represent target dates that EPA intends 
to meet.

[51 FR 23712, June 30, 1986]