Senator Lautenberg Introduces “Safe Chemicals Act”

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Senator Lautenberg Introduces “Safe Chemicals Act”

Healthy Child

Thursday, April 15, 2010

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced legislation to overhaul the “Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976” (TSCA), an antiquated law that in its current state, leaves Americans at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, introduced the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010” to protect the health of families and the environment.

“America’s system for regulating industrial chemicals is broken,” said Senator Lautenberg. “Parents are afraid because hundreds of untested chemicals are found in their children’s bodies. EPA does not have the tools to act on dangerous chemicals and the chemical industry has asked for stronger laws so that their customers are assured their products are safe. My 'Safe Chemicals Act' will breathe new life into a long-dead statute by empowering EPA to get tough on toxic chemicals. Chemical safety reform is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is a common-sense issue and I look forward to building bipartisan support for this measure.”

The “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010” requires safety testing of all industrial chemicals, and puts the burden on industry to prove that chemicals are safe in order to stay on the market. Under current policy, the EPA can only call for safety testing after evidence surfaces demonstrating a chemical is dangerous. As a result, EPA has been able to require testing for just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals currently registered in the United States and has been able to ban only five dangerous substances. The new legislation will give EPA more power to regulate the use of dangerous chemicals and require manufacturers to submit information proving the safety of every chemical in production and any new chemical seeking to enter the market.

Over the last several months, Sen. Lautenberg has chaired a series of hearings to help craft the “Safe Chemicals Act” with dozens of witnesses including business leaders, public officials, scientists, doctors, academics, and non-profit organizations. Through the hearings, public health groups, environmentalists, industry representatives and the EPA have expressed support for reforms to our nation’s toxic substance laws. The “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010” comports with the reform principles laid out by the Obama Administration, the American Chemistry Council and the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition.

Highlights of the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010”

Provides EPA with sufficient information to judge a chemical’s safety. Requires manufacturers to develop and submit a minimum data set for each chemical they produce, while also preventing duplicative or unnecessary testing. EPA will have full authority to request additional information needed to determine the safety of a chemical.

Prioritizes chemicals based on risk. Calls on the EPA to categorize chemicals based on risk, and focus resources on evaluating those most likely to cause harm.

Ensures safety threshold is met for all chemicals on the market. Places the burden of proof on chemical manufacturers to prove the safety of their chemicals. All uses must be identified and determined safe for the chemical to enter the market or continue to be used.

Takes fast action to address highest risk chemicals. Requires EPA to take fast action to reduce risk from chemicals that have already been proven dangerous. In addition, the EPA Administrator is given authority to act quickly if any chemical poses an imminent hazard.

Creates open access to reliable chemical information. Establishes a public database to catalog the information submitted by chemical manufacturers and the EPA’s safety determinations. The EPA will impose requirements to ensure the information collected is reliable.

Promotes innovation and development of green chemistry. Establishes grant programs and research centers to foster the development of safe chemical alternatives, and brings some new chemicals onto the market using an expedited review process.

Posted by jogos de moto on 10/31/2011 at 09:48 AM

Little fanfare accompanied the introduction in April of the Safe Chemicals Act by the US Senate. The Act was designed, according to Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), to upgrade Americas outdated technique for managing chemical safety.â Ostensibly, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 is a risk-based bill that modernizes and addresses each of the core failings of the Poisonous Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. Under the bill, chemical companies would need to demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be necessary to evaluate safety based on the best obtainable science. Unlike earlier efforts to update TSCA, this bill would need chemical companies to create and submit a maximum knowledge set for each chemical they produce. EPA would then have the full authority to return to manufacturers and request additional testing if there was any doubt about the safety of a chemical. Chemicals would be prioritized based on criteria intended to identify immediate risk.â��

Posted by Zakłady bukmacherskie on 07/15/2011 at 10:04 PM

Celia, we have a lot in common with these returning soldiers, many have been exposed to toxic chemicals and/or suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), both of which research shows can cause MCS. Many of these injured soldiers are also being returned to war instead of being rerouted to rehab and counseling. Last year, more returning soldiers committed suicide than were killed in the war.

Posted by Mensagens Para Orkut on 06/25/2011 at 10:23 AM

I wonder if the USDA had a hand in this? After all did not get the job Monsanto to conduct their own environmental assessments? This is just a similar relaxation of controls for the chemical industry (which incidentally includes Monsanto). If relevant government departments to get much more “hands” that will be doing a job.

Posted by Mary on 06/09/2011 at 04:37 AM

I just hope this is a strong enough bill to really show results. We now have water from Aqua of PA and there is somewhat of a fragrance in the water that is making me ill. I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and so would be more sensitive to chemicals after only a short time of exposure. Others I believe will show signs of health issues in the future. I have smelled this fragrance and reacted to it near our river and dam for several years now, but just recently coming from the faucet. Therefore I am assuming it is something Aqua uses because it wasn’t in our water in the past. I’m hoping this bill will cover this type of chemical as well.

Posted by House cleaning on 03/18/2011 at 04:53 AM

I love the safe chemicals act. There are chemicals in everything. I even get nervous when doing cleaning the house. I try to use all natural products so that I don’t harm my kids. I’m excited to see what comes of the safe chemicals act.

Posted by russel on 03/16/2011 at 06:05 PM

I love the safe chemicals act. There are chemicals in everything. I even get nervous when doing <a href=“http://www.angieslist.com/house-cleaning/” rel=“follow”>house cleaning</a>. I try to use all natural products so that I don’t harm my kids. I’m excited to see what comes of the safe chemicals act.

Posted by v4c on 05/14/2010 at 12:43 PM

This is breakthrough legislation. It will not “kill small business” as someone claimed. If a small business doesn’t want to test dangerous chemicals, I suggest they don’t use them in the first place. Problem solved!

Businesses and industries that expose us and our children to potentially dangerous chemicals don’t need more leeway to “test” them on us, but “way, way less”.

Posted by Joysain on 05/14/2010 at 07:54 AM

I think this is a horrible idea that will kill small business which can not afford to test everything. The EPA does not need more power but way way less.

Posted by Kate'sMom on 05/06/2010 at 11:00 AM

It’s a long road from the time a bill is introduced to the time it’s passed into law. Most bills don’t make it. Don’t forget to contact your legislators and let them know you support this bill.

Posted by Mary on 05/06/2010 at 10:38 AM

Posted by Tracie on 04/16/2010 at 07:38 PM

What a relief!

Posted by Shelby Rodriguez on 04/15/2010 at 06:32 PM

This is a dream come true!

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