For the first time, the EPA is providing Web access, free of charge, to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. The agency announced on Monday, March 15, 2010, that it would open up the entire TSCA database to the public, and make the information freely available on the agency's website and on the White House's data.gov site.

Until now, the consolidated public portion of the TSCA Inventory has only been available by purchase from the National Technical Reports Library or other databases.

This inventory contains a consolidated list of thousands of industrial chemicals maintained by the agency.

According to an agency release, "the action represents another step to increase the transparency of chemical information, while continuing to push for legislative reform of the 30 year old TSCA law."

Currently, there are more than 84,000 chemicals manufactured, used, or imported in the U.S. listed on the TSCA Inventory, according to the agency's website. However, the EPA said in its release that it is unable to publicly identify nearly 17,000 of these chemicals because the chemicals have been claimed as confidential business information under TSCA by the manufacturers. The EPA announced in January that it intends to reduce the number of Confidential Business Information (CBI) claims on the identity of chemicals.

The EPA said it plans to add TSCA facility information, and the list of chemicals manufactured, to its Facility Registry System (FRS). The addition of TSCA facility and chemical databases to FRS will provide the public with information on the facilities in their communities using industrial chemicals.

For access to the entire TSCA Inventory, visit www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems/pubs/invntory.htm.