On July 12, 2007, EPA issued a draft document, TSCA Inventory Status of Nanoscale Substances—General Approach, and a draft concept paper summarizing a voluntary Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program for chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  EPA proposed to use the same approach for nanoscale chemicals that it currently uses for traditional chemicals under TSCA to determine if the chemical is a new or existing compound.  

Under the proposed stewardship program, participants would be asked to voluntarily submit information to EPA to provide a firmer scientific foundation for future policy decisions on regulating nanotechnology applications. EPA will hold a public meeting August 2, 2007, in Arlington, Va., on the proposed Stewardship Program and will accept comments on the proposed approach on the TSCA Inventory Status of Nanoscale Materials until Aug. 13, 2007. 

More information about EPA’s approach to regulating nanomaterials is available on the NASF website at www.nasf.org.