Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 07:50:13 -0500
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Subject: 13 States Release Recommendations on Reform of the Toxic
Substances Control Act

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2009news/Maine_TSCA_120209.html

Washington State Department of Ecology News Release - December 2, 2009
California Environmental Protection Agency
Maine Department of Environmental Protection

States Urge Federal Action on Toxic Chemicals
13 States Release Recommendations on Reform of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act

AUGUSTA, MAINE =97Thirteen states today released a set of principles 
designed to ensure that the debate over reforming the nation's outdated 
chemical policy stays focused on protecting public health and the 
environment.

State regulatory leaders across the country say the 33-year-old Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) does not contain powerful enough tools to 
safely monitor and control the tens of thousands of chemicals used every 
day in the United States. As Congress debates TSCA's future, 
environmental officials in the 13 states are seeking reform of one of 
the nation's signature environmental laws to allow them to protect 
vulnerable populations by effectively identifying and regulating the 
most troubling chemicals.

=93Current federal chemical regulations fail to adequately protect the 
nation's citizens and environment from toxic chemicals and unsafe 
products,=94 said David Littell, Commissioner of the Maine Department of 
Environmental Protection. =93The effects of exposure to toxic chemicals 
on human health, the environment, and the economy are enormous and often 
avoidable.=94

States have long been the leaders in creating innovative policies to 
protect public health, the environment and create jobs through 
groundbreaking legislation. California's Green Chemistry Initiative, for 
example, is working to reduce - and eventually eliminate - toxic 
chemicals from consumer goods. This =93benign by design=94 approach 
promises to sharply cut pollution while spurring the creation of 
hundreds of thousands of =93green jobs.=94

Both Maine and Washington are implementing new comprehensive chemicals 
policy statutes to promote safer chemicals in children's products and 
prioritize hazardous chemicals for further action.

 =93Environmental leadership often begins at the grassroots level and 
works it way up to Washington, D.C. California has a long history of 
working with other states to share and exchange successful environmental 
policies that improve public health, protect the environment and grow 
new, green jobs,=94 said Linda Adams, California's Secretary for 
Environmental Protection. =93We need a more innovative approach to 
chemical policy, to apply our best scientific solutions to today's 
real-world environmental challenges, and these principles help define 
the important changes needed.=94

The eight recommendations listed in the States' Principles on Reform of 
the Toxic Substances Control Act are central to TSCA's reform, state 
officials say. The principles were developed through a collaboration of 
13 states - California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, 
Vermont and Washington.

The key recommendations in the States' Principles on Reform of the Toxic 
Substances Control Act include:

Manufacturers must demonstrate that the chemicals they use and the 
products they make are safe - for the public and the environment.
Safer products and chemicals should be promoted.
Chemical and safety information should be widely available to 
regulators, businesses and the public.
=93Without adequate protection at the federal level, it has fallen to 
the states to protect people and the environment from the toxic 
chemicals that are causing harm. But dealing with toxic contamination 
after the fact is ultimately futile - the human, environmental and 
economic damage is already done,=94 said Ted Sturdevant, Director of the 
Washington State Department of Ecology. =93We need a federal law that 
prevents contamination from happening in the first place, and phases out 
the harmful chemicals that are already in widespread use. That's common 
sense, but it's not the system we have today.=94

###

California, Maine and Washington Contact Information

BreAnda Northcutt, California Environmental Protection Agency; (916) 
324-9670, bnorthcutt**At_Symbol_Here**calepa.ca.gov 
David P. Littell, Commissioner, Maine Department of Environmental 
Protection; (207) 287-2812.
Ted Sturdevant, Director, Washington State Department of Ecology; (360) 
407-7001
For more information:
State's Principles on Reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act - 
December 2, 2009 (pdf)

	Copyright =A9 Washington State Department of Ecology
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