The state has released a blueprint for safer products.
The state Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) has released a blueprint for safer products.
The outline -- Regulations for Safer Products -- gives the public its first look at how the regulatory arm of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Green Chemistry Initiative will be implemented.
"We now know that safer products are a critical part of a safer environment." DTSC Director Maziar Movassaghi said in a prepared statement.
By motivating manufacturers to look for safer alternatives early on, the outline inspires innovation and moves California toward a more sustainable future.
"We want businesses to use their know-how and innovation in developing solutions for using safer chemicals in products" said Movassaghi. "These regulations are a win for California - safer products producing innovation and the innovation producing more jobs."
The outline makes clear DTSC's commitment to implementing a systematic process based on science to focus on reducing the use of chemicals posing the greatest threat to public health and our environment, and gives DTSC the ability to respond quickly to new science.
Once products of concern are identified, a regulatory process would begin encouraging the manufacturer to engage in an alternatives analysis to find safer alternative chemicals.
The next step in creating the regulations is developing draft language. These draft regulations will be released in the very near future.
DTSC welcomes feedback on the outline from all stakeholders.
The outline -- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)-- and the conceptual framework can be found at: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/GreenChemistryInitiative/safer_products_regs_outline.cfm
For general questions, call the Department of Toxic Substances Control at 800.728-6942 or visit www.dtsc.ca.gov. To report illegal handling, discharge, or disposal of hazardous waste, call the Waste Alert Hotline at 800. 698-6942.
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
Leave a comment