Chemical Programs: Government
On June 4, 2007, the Northwest Chapter of the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) hosted a Northwest Chemicals Policy Symposium in Troutdale, Oregon. The symposium helped generate interest in solving chemical policy challenges at a Northwest regional level. NAHMMA continued these efforts, through their 2008 Northwest Hazardous Materials Management Conference, which included a full day focusing on chemical policy.
California
In 2002, the California State Legislature requested a study on chemical policy in the state of California. This resulted in a report titled Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation produced by Michael P. Wilson and the California Policy Research Center at the University of California.
The report identifies the three policy goals for a modern, comprehensive chemicals policy:
- Close the Data Gap: Ensure that chemical producers generate, distribute and communicate information on chemical toxicity, ecotoxicity, uses and other key data.
- Close the Safety Gap: Strengthen government tools for identifying, prioritizing and mitigating chemical hazards.
- Close the Technology Gap: Support research, development, technical assistance, entrepreneurial activity, and education in green chemistry science and technology.
The report led to the California Green Chemistry Initiative spearheaded by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The goal of the initiative is to fundamentally change the way California manages its chemicals and waste. An additional gap in the understanding of current chemical policies in California, as well as Washington and Oregon, is the cost of these policies to our local government agencies. Existing chemical policies result in many costs that are borne by local government agencies including:
- treating waste water that contains toxic chemicals;
- costs to manage products and materials upon disposal that contain toxic and hazardous components at transfer stations, landfills and incinerators;
- costs to recycle or manage products that contain toxic components;
- costs to local health departments to treat people with chronic exposure to products and materials that contain toxic chemicals, etc.
The UC Berkeley and UCLA Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health, examined health and economic consequences of toxic chemicals, current chemical policy, green chemistry and potential solutions in the state of California in the 2008 report, Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California.
Oregon
A group of governments and nongovernmental organizations have formed the Oregon Chemical Policy Roundtable (PDF file, 60KB) that works in coalition and seeks to identify, develop, evaluate, and disseminate key chemical research and policy questions, as well as identify and craft innovative ideas for executive and legislative actions that support new chemical policies and toxics reduction in the state. For more information see the Oregon Center for Environmental Health.
The Oregon Governor’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Toxics, an outgrowth of a meeting with the Governor’s natural resource advisor held with non-governmental organizations on toxic chemicals, will focus on toxics policy changes and priorities, and identifying overlapping responsibilities and opportunities related to toxics.
Washington
Department of Ecology Beyond Waste Plan
In 2004, the Washington Beyond Waste Plan was adopted by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Many of the recommendations focus on partner activities between government, industry and NGOs. One of the key strategies involves finding collaborative ways to share responsibility for solutions to problem wastes through corporate responsibility and product stewardship opportunities.
It contains initiatives that specifically focus on creating a broader vision of solid and hazardous waste avoidance and management. The industrial initiative includes research and promotion of sustainability in product development including the use of alternative products based on lower toxicity, recyclability, reusability, water consumption, energy use, and resulting wastes from manufacturing processes and end use.
The initiative addressing reduction of small volume materials and wastes focuses particularly on small quantities of hazardous waste generated by households and businesses. This initiative specifically calls for product stewardship solutions in some recommendations. Learn more in the 2007 report, Washington State’s Beyond Waste Project: Reducing Small-Volume Hazardous Materials and Wastes (PDF file, 452KB).
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBT) Rule
The PBT Rule, effective February 13, 2006 as WAC 173-333, takes a chemical-by-chemical approach to regulating a list of chemicals by developing a Chemical Action Plan (CAP). A CAP identifies, characterizes and evaluates uses and releases of a specific PBT, a group of PBTs, or metals of concern and recommends actions to protect human health or the environment.
PBTs are substances that are both naturally occurring and man-made substances that build up in the food chain and can affect human health and reproduction. These toxins travel long distances in the atmosphere, move readily from land to air and water, and do not break down easily. PBTs are produced from a wide variety of sources, including vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, pharmaceuticals, some household appliances, and the presence (due to historical use) of pesticides and PCBs in sediments and tissues.
As part of the rule, Ecology developed a list of these substances to be addressed through the development of CAPs. Each CAP takes several years from research through completion and additional legislation is needed to enact regulatory changes or bans. Ecology and the Department of Health have completed aMercury CAP in 2003 and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Flame Retardants CAP in 2006. A draft lead CAP is expected by the Spring of 2008. Ecology is planning to address Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonates (PFOS) in the next two CAPS.
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County (LHWMP)
LHWMP is a regional program of local governments in King County working together to protect public health and environmental quality by reducing the threat posed by the production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. Beginning in 2007, LHWMP launched a new strategic plan. Components of the plan include:
- Participating in the establishment of a regional chemical review program by the end of 2009
- Participating in the passing of a Washington State Toxics Use Reduction Act and establishing a new Toxics Use Reduction Institute by 2010 as a research/business assistance component of that legislation.
In working towards these objectives, LHWMP has begun work on the Cities and County Chemical Sustainability and Policy Report to identify the local costs associated with existing chemical policies. LHWMP has also allocated staffing toward the promotion and adoption of the precautionary principle within various county agencies.
