CALIFORNIA WORKING TO ESTABLISH INTERSTATE CHEMICAL CLEARINGHOUSE

摘要

California is working with several other states to create a broad, interstate chemical data center that can be used to advance new chemical-safety programs. The effort is likely to be opposed by the chemical industry, which objects to the establishment of state chemical programs independent from the federal government. The state's Department of Toxic Substances's (DTSC) involvement in the interstate effort reflects support for state-level authority over chemical policy, which amounts to a direct challenge to EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) program. The effort also includes New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Washington. DTSC is working on the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse project as it looks to eventually implement California's new major green chemistry laws, which were signed Sept. 28 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). AB 1879 bolsters DTSC's ability to more fully regulate toxins in consumer products. The law directs DTSC by 2011 to formulate a method for analyzing chemicals. DTSC can decide the various ways it wants to control chemicals in products. The other key law, SB 509, calls for chemical information to be placed in a Toxics Information Clearinghouse.