Industry Group Cautions Senate on Changing TSCA
The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association on April 29 submitted written testimony to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works expressing its concerns regarding possible premature, unnecessary revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
"Current U.S. chemicals policy has proven effective at protecting public health and the environment, fostering innovation, and allowing American businesses to remain competitive in the global marketplace," said NPRA President Charles T. Drevna. "Imposing unnecessary, politically motivated reforms on U.S. chemicals policy during these economically uncertain times will do little to improve public health and safety, but will needlessly exacerbate the rise in the cost of domestic goods and will ultimately send more American jobs overseas."
Highlights of the testimony include the following:
• NPRA supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP) initiative, a tiered, targeted, and safety-based approach to managing chemicals.
• EPA has had difficulty implementing TSCA not because of inherent flaws in the statute, but because of inadequate funding and outside pressure to make hasty decisions.
• Congress intended to provide a series of checks and balances in chemicals policy framework to ensure that decisions are scientifically and economically sound, not politically motivated.
• Making unwarranted changes to U.S. chemicals policy will likely disrupt the manufacturing supply chain and make it even more difficult to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States.
NPRA members include more than 450 companies, including virtually all US refiners and petrochemical manufacturers.