​To protect human health and the environment, NIH works to assure compliance with statutes and regulations governing hazardous and toxic substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Emergency Planning Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA).   Additionally, NIH works with personnel to reduce the amount of hazardous and toxic chemicals when feasible through established NIH programs such as the Toxic Chemical Reduction Initiatives and Substances of Concern.

EPCRA has four major provisions:  Emergency planning (sections 301-303), emergency release notification (Section 304), hazardous chemical storage reporting requirements (Sections 311-312), and toxic chemical release inventory (Section 313).  The information provided to the regulatory agencies under EPCRA helps efficient local preparedness for unexpected chemical emergencies and provides accurate information on hazardous chemical storage and releases into the environment to protect both human health and the environment.

NIH minimizes potential release of TSCA-regulated substance​s such as mercury, lead-based paint, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and works to remove TSCA materials from campus via the NIH decommissioning program.​​