In addition to our release of new toys test results, yesterday (December 2nd) the Senate held an important oversight hearing on Toxic Substance Control Act featuring EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. In addition 13 states issued eight recommendations that they think federal lawmakers and regulators should use to make sure that the planned federal revisions protect public health and the environment. All of these voices and activities are building momentum towards the biggest reform of chemical policy in our life times. A few quotes from yesterday:
EPA Adminstrator Lisa Jackson:
“But let me be clear – this is no substitute for meaningful reform of the underlying law. The need for fundamental TSCA reform has been recognized by industry groups, including the American Chemistry Council, environmental groups, public health groups, several States and cities, and many other groups who have all called on Congress to Act. I too call on Congress to act on this issue and give EPA the tools to adequately protect human health and the environment.
The time has come to bring TSCA into the 21st Century. EPA looks forward to working with this committee on this very important issue.”
You can read the full statements from the Senate hearing below:
Statement of Lisa Jackson, Administrator United States Environmental Protection Agency
Statement of Linda Birnbaum, Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, and Director, National Toxicology Program U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Statement of John Stephenson, Director Natural Resources and Environment United States Government Accountability Office
View the complete hearing here: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=129f8be4-802a-23ad-4217-c8c5900bf3db
From Maine:
“Current federal chemical regulations fail to adequately protect the nation’s citizens and environment from toxic chemicals and unsafe products,” said David Littell, commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. “The effects of exposure to toxic chemicals on human health, the environment and the economy are enormous and often avoidable.”
From Washington State:
“Dealing with toxic contamination after the fact is ultimately futile [because] the human, environmental and economic damage is already done,” said Ted Sturdevant, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology. “We 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.”
Read more on the state recommendations for chemical policy reform from the Seattle Post Intellegencer
