| Description: | The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), formerly the Office of Toxic Substances, 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, and 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, which 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. |
