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US EPA’s Chemical Management. Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Acting Director Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Chemicals Legislation. Administrator’s priority Stakeholders: common elements existing chemicals: prioritization, schedule, data safety standard
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US EPA’s Chemical Management Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Acting Director Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Chemicals Legislation • Administrator’s priority • Stakeholders: common elements • existing chemicals: prioritization, schedule, data • safety standard • children and sensitive subpopulations • sharing CBI information with U.S. states and other governments • transparency/public access • Congressional Interest • Feb. 26, 2009 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee held an oversight hearing on reauthorizing TSCA
TSCA – Existing Chemicals • In 1999, EPA launched the voluntary High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program • Companies committed to make basic health and safety data publicly available on more than 2200 existing chemicals produced or imported in the U.S. in quantities greater than one million pounds a year • In 2007, EPA launched the Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP), which includes: • U.S. commitment to complete screening-level hazard and risk characterizations and initiate action, as appropriate, on more than 6,000 chemicals produced above 25,000 pounds per year • Administrator Jackson has asked that OPPTS develop options to ramp up efforts to assess, prioritize, and take action on existing chemicals, with particular emphasis on protecting children.
Mercury • International efforts: • Support for binding global mercury negotiations at UNEP Governing Council meeting, which will be comprehensive in nature and will consider all major sources of mercury (emissions, trade, products, supply, storage, waste). • Continued support for the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, including the Mercury-Containing Products Partnership • Domestic efforts: • Phase-out the use of non-fever mercury thermometers and measuring devices in industrial applications • Developing rulemaking under TSCA to reduce or eliminate the continued use of mercury in certain products, including switches, relays, flame sensors, button cell batteries, and other measuring devices
Other Chemicals of Concern Lead • Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting Rule • April 2010 • ICCM-2 Resolution • Creating a Global Partnership to phase-out the manufacture and sale of paints containing lead Formaldehyde • Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking • December 2008 • Reviewing industry & stakeholder input • Received December – March, including 6 public meetings
Pollution Prevention • Design for the Environment Formulator Program • Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) • Green Chemistry Program • Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards • Other Pollution Prevention Activities • P2 Strategic Plan
Web Resources • OPPT: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/ • TSCA: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/ar/2007-2009/managing/index.htm • Lead: http://www.epa.gov/lead • Mercury: http://www.epa.gov/mercury • Formaldehyde: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/ formaldehyde/index.htm • Pollution Prevention: http://www.epa.gov/p2/