New Toxics Resource: Dr. Denison on “The State of TSCA Reform”

Last Wednesday more than 60 people joined us for the first in a series of Confronting Toxics webinars – this one was about the role of the healthcare professional in federal chemicals policy. We were lucky to have Richard Denison, PhD, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, as well as Lindsay Dahl, Deputy Director of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition, as presenters. This webinar was the first of a three-part series we will be offering this winter and spring to keep our toxics advocates engaged and updated on the goings-on in the toxics policy arena.

Thanks to all who called in to learn about how to get involved in strengthening our chemical regulations. The slides from Dr. Denison’s excellent summary, “The State of TSCA Reform,” are now posted as a resource at psr.org. You can find them here.

To me, one of the most interesting things Dr. Denison discussed during the webinar was the ways in which the chemical industry, which has purported to be supportive of chemical policy reform, has undermined policy change. He also detailed the salient differences between the Toxic Substances Control Act – the major (and majorly outdated) statute regulating chemicals in commerce – and the policy changes that were proposed last year, but never taken up by the House or Senate.

And how about this year? We will get a sense of what’s to come this Thursday, February 3, when the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a public hearing on the effectiveness of US chemical safety laws. Hope to see you there!

Comments Leave a Comment

Leave your comment

Name
Comment
Enter this word:	Change