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

Submitting OIG:

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.

Date Issued:

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Environmental Protection Agency

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

21-E-0186

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

Additional Details Link:

https://www.epa.gov/office-inspector-general/report-epas-endocrine-disruptor-scr…

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
21-E-0186_1	Open	No
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.
21-E-0186_2	Open	No
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.
21-E-0186_3	Open	No
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.
21-E-0186_4	Open	No
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.
21-E-0186_5	Open	No
Develop and implement an updated formal strategic planning document, such as the Comprehensive Management Plan.
21-E-0186_6	Open	No
Develop performance measures, with reasonable time frames, to document progress toward and achievement of milestones or targets. Specifically, the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program should consider at least one performance measure that tracks progress in testing pesticides for human endocrine disruptor activity.
21-E-0186_7	Open	No
Conduct annual internal program reviews of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program.
21-E-0186_8	Open	No
Complete and publish the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program’s response(s) to 2015 Federal Register notice comments and its related white paper.
21-E-0186_10	Open	No
To increase external communication and transparency, update the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program website, including the program timeline, and publish any relevant program documents.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

21-E-0186_1

Open

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.

21-E-0186_2

Open

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.

21-E-0186_3

Open