Industry Examines EPA's Risk Approach to Regulating Chemicals: Risk management seminar details how agency plans to use this technique, points up need to relieve public concerns over chemicals

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator William D. Ruckelshaus has committed the agency to the risk assessment /risk management method in regulating existing chemicals, and chemical companies are anxious to find out just where they stand. Thus the Chemical Manufacturers Association convened a seminar on risk management early this month to help industry representatives form a better understanding of how the agency is using this technique in regulatory actions. What they heard was not the most encouraging news. An EPA representive said that the agency is getting more involved in reviewing existing chemicals, that is, the substances on the chemical inventory required by the Toxic Substances Control Act. An environmental spokesman warned that risk assessment cannot be purely scientific, that it must be recognized as being at least partially subjective. There also were discussions of problems that have arisen over proper TSCA jurisdiction and public participation in solving toxic chemical control issues....