Reform of Toxic Substances Control Act

On Thursday, April 15 Senator Lautenberg (NJ) introduced the "Safe Chemicals Act," intended to overhaul the “Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976” (TSCA). This bill is extremely important to all of our efforts to ensure the ecological integrity of our watersheds.

For years, River Network has helped impacted downstream communities respond to the ecological and human health impacts of toxic contamination. Our work in impacted communities consumes enormous staff resources; the problems are complex and not easily resolved.

In an effort to have a greater impact with fewer resources, our new strategic plan calls for us to also work further “upstream” to prevent toxic substances from entering our watersheds in the first place. The reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act is an important vehicle for accomplishing this.

There are currently more than 80,000 chemicals in use with 1,000 new chemicals added each year. In 1976, the federal government passed TSCA in an attempt to better regulate chemicals in the U.S. However, TSCA grandfathered in 62,000 chemicals and does not require the EPA to assess the risk of these chemicals. And in the 33 years since its passage, only 5 chemicals have been restricted.

It is especially important that watershed groups get involved in this process. At a minimum, we urge your group to consider writing a letter to your Congressional representatives. If you plan to meet you representative or to send a letter, please keep River Network posted. River Network is part of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition working nationally on these efforts and we would very much like to track local efforts. We’ve made it easy for you to keep us informed of your efforts here.

If you have questions or need more background information, please e-mail Steve Dickens at sdickens@rivernetwork.org.

Related links:

Lautenberg bill seeks to overhaul U.S. chemical laws
The Washington Post
April 15, 2010

Lautenberg Introduces "Safe Chemicals Act" to Protect Americans from Toxic Chemicals
Press Release of Senator Lautenberg
April 15, 2010