Pending “Safe Chemicals Act” Prompts Downstream Users to Discuss Implications at Washington, DC Forum
Press Invited to Sussman Speech, Thurs, June 3, 9 am – 10:30 am EST
Business leaders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be gathering in Washington, D.C. June 3 – 4 to discuss how the proposed federal legislation to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 will affect companies who are downstream users of chemicals.
The purpose of this forum is to:
- Hear the perspective of legislators, regulators and environmental public health advocates;
- Discuss the needs of downstream users, including the need for better data and transparency regarding chemicals in the supply chain;
- Discuss the opportunities and challenges that safer chemicals reform presents to downstream businesses, including the potential market advantage or disruption of transitioning away from chemicals of concern; and
- Explore the common policy interests among businesses who are downstream users of chemicals and NGOs.
Members of the press are invited to attend the keynote speech by Bob Sussman, Senior Counsel to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on Thursday, June 3 at 9 am. The meeting will take place at the BEACON HOTEL, 1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW in Washington, DC. Please RSVP to Shayna Samuels at 718-541-4785 or [email protected]. The rest of this forum will be closed to the press.
Other forum speakers include: Rachelle Wenger, Director, Public Policy & Community Advocacy, Catholic Healthcare West; Roger McFadden, Vice President, Staples; Robin Guenther, Principal, Perkins+Will; Howard Williams, Vice President, Construction Specialties; Jeffrey Hollender, Co-founder, Seventh Generation; Ryan Williams, Good Cop, Method; Richard Denison, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund; Patricia Beattie, President, Arcalis Scientific; Mark Rossi, Chair, Business-NGO Working Group; and David Levine, Executive Director, American Sustainable Business Council.
Businesses interested in transitioning to safer chemicals are demanding that TSCA Reform:
- Require chemical manufacturers to develop and submit hazard, use and exposure data on chemicals in commerce, and require the EPA to make such data readily available to the public;
- Take immediate action to reduce the use of PBT chemicals and other chemicals of very high concern (such as formaldehyde);
- Clearly identify chemicals of high and low concern to human and environmental health, based on robust information;
- Require greater disclosure of chemicals of high concern in products; and
- Require the EPA to expand and intensify its efforts to promote safer alternatives.