EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Has Made Limited Progress in Assessing Pesticides

View Report

Date Issued

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Submitting OIG

Environmental Protection Agency OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Environmental Protection Agency

Report Number

21-E-0186

Report Description

Without the required testing and an effective system of internal controls, the EPA cannot make measurable progress toward complying with statutory requirements or safeguarding human health and the environment against risks from endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Report Type

Inspection / Evaluation

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

Open Recommendations

This report has 4 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
Issue Tier 1 test orders for each List 2 chemical or publish an explanation for public comment on why Tier 1 data are no longer needed to characterize a List 2 chemical's endocrine-disruption activity.
2	No	$0	$0
Determine whether the EPA should incorporate the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Tier 1 tests (or approved new approach methodologies) into the pesticide registration process as mandatory data requirements under 40 C.F.R. § 158 for all pesticide use patterns.
3	No	$0	$0
Issue List 1—Tier 2 test orders for the 18 pesticides in which additional Tier 2 testing was recommended or publish an explanation for public comment on why Tier 2 data are no longer needed to characterize the endocrine-disruption activity for each of these 18 pesticides.
4	No	$0	$0
Issue for public review and comment both the Environmental Fate and Effects Division's approach for the reevaluation of List 1—Tier 1 data and the revised List 1—Tier 2 wildlife recommendations.