The IC2 is very pleased to welcome Clean Water Action Minnesota and Costco Wholesale as new Supporting Members. The IC2 is also working closely with the National Tribal Toxics Council to finalize the details of its Supporting Membership, which the IC2 Board provisionally approved in May.

Clean Water Action Minnesota collaborates with other organizations in Minnesota and across the country to reform chemical policies. It co-founded a Minnesota public health coalition called Healthy Legacy in response to the growing body of scientific evidence linking rising rates of disease and exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products and the environment.

Costco Wholesale is a multi-billion dollar global retailer with warehouse club operations in eight countries. Costco is committed to providing its members with high-quality goods at the lowest possible price in a way that is respectful to the environment and to the people and animals that produce these goods. Costco works with the chemical and consumer product industries to find appropriate replacements for many chemicals of concern and to develop a green approach to chemical use.

The National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) is a U.S. EPA Tribal Partnership Group that is focused on providing Tribes with an opportunity for greater input on issues related to toxic chemicals and pollution prevention. The NTTC gives tribes a forum for providing advice on the development of EPA's chemical management and pollution prevention programs that affect tribes. Given the uniqueness of tribal cultures, communities, and environmental problems, the forum helps EPA better tailor and more efficiently address a variety of issues, expand pollution prevention and safer chemical initiatives in Indian country, and better evaluate unique chemical exposures on tribal lands.

Earlier this year, the IC2 released an updated version (v1.1) of the IC2 Alternatives Assessment Guide (Guide), with substantive changes to the Exposure Module. This new version brings the Guide into closer alignment with the National Academy of Sciences' A Framework to Guide Selection of Chemical Alternatives.

The IC2 published the first version (v1.0) of the Guide in January 2014. It provides assessors with three potential frameworks and sufficient flexibility to allow a wide range of users to conduct an alternatives assessment to replace toxic chemicals in products or processes with safer alternatives.

The first version of the Guide incorporated many of the principles of comparative exposure assessment, and IC2's v1.1 update clarifies how comparative exposure can be used within the Guide frameworks to conduct an alternatives assessment.

In the past few months, the IC2 has added 5 new GreenScreens and 13 QCATs to the Chemical Hazard Assessment Database. The new GreenScreens provide detailed chemical hazard information for:

• bumetrizole
• fumed (or pyrogenic) nanosilica
• silver
• nanosilver
• HeiQ AGS-20 (a silver-silica nanocomposite)

Tuesday, June 6th, 1:00-2:00 PM EDT
Learn about recent updates in efforts to reduce gymnast exposure to flame retardants. Topics covered will include levels of flame retardants in gyms and gymnasts, why flame retardants can be harmful, and what can be done about it, as well as new content on maintaining fire safety without the use of flame retardants, engaging with the fire prevention/protection community, practical aspects of replacing a foam pit, and availability of flame retardant-free equipment. The webinar will be followed by a Q&A session. More information or register

Clean Production Action has partnered with the Washington Department of Ecology to offer a workshop on June 6th in Portland, Oregon, covering its GreenScreen® List Translator. This automated tool helps users understand known impacts of chemicals on human health and the environment and categorize which chemicals to avoid when purchasing and designing products and services. The training will help participants to:

• Understand the value of chemical hazard assessments and related tools and resources
• Define GreenScreen List Translator origins, methods, strengths, and limitations
• Obtain GreenScreen List Translator results for chemicals of interest using automated databases
• Use GreenScreen List Translator to inform chemicals management and sustainability decisions and prioritize action

 
The University of Washington Continuing Education Program will be offering a Transitioning to Safer Chemicals class on September 6 and 7. The course will give participants hands-on experience with key methods, tools, and databases and guide them through OSHA's seven-step substitution planning process for understanding and evaluating chemical use, identifying and assessing alternatives, and implementing safer alternatives.

This three-course online program, which runs from September 27, 2017 to June 8, 2018, is intended to teach students how to design safer chemicals and industrial processes. The program will explore:

• The 12 guiding principles of green chemistry
• Business drivers and barriers to implementing sustainable practices
• Frameworks for incorporating chemical toxicity and human health considerations into product design, material selections, and supply chain
• Decision-making
• Environmental, economic, and societal benefits of green chemistry
• The latest research and regulatory developments
• New tools for chemical design and methods for comparative chemical hazard assessments

Massachusetts has designated the following as Higher Hazard Substances under the Commonwealth's Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) starting in 2016:

• n-Propyl Bromide (nPB)
• Hydrogen Fluoride
• Cyanide Compounds
• Dimethylformamide (DMF)

• 2,4-TDI (CASRN 584-84-9)
• 2,6-TDI (CASRN 91-08-7)
• TDI mixed isomers (CASRN 26471-62-5)

• 4-Nonylphenol (CASRN 104-40-5)
• Isononylphenol (CASRN 11066-49-2)
• Nonylphenol (CASRN 25154-52-3)
• 4-Isononylphenol (CASRN 26543-97-5)
• 4-Nonylphenol, branched (CASRN 84852-15-3)
• Nonylphenol, branched (CASRN 90481-04-2)

The Higher Hazard Substance designation lowers the threshold for reporting, planning, and paying fees under TURA to 1,000 lbs./year.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) recently launched an initiative to require all manufacturers of household cleaning products sold in New York to disclose chemical ingredients on their websites. New York is the first state in the nation to require manufacturers to reveal ingredients in household cleaning products, which may contain chemicals with negative health impacts for humans and the environment.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) are establishing a new EcoBiz certification program for Oregon dry cleaners. DEQ and PPRC staff have been meeting with owners and operators of Oregon dry cleaners to discuss the program's standards, which will be designed to encourage businesses to go "above and beyond" what is legally required.

A primary concern of the program is to ensure that alternatives to perchloroethylene do not contain toxic components. The certification will also encourage proper recycling techniques, reuse of materials, and employee education.

2017 manufacturer reports under Washington's Children's Safe Products Act (CSPA) are due to Ecology by August 31, 2017. 2018 manufacturer reports will be due in January 2019. Comments on a Proposed Children's Safe Products Reporting Rule update were due by May 12. Adoption of the proposed rule update is scheduled for September 2017. Ecology plans to host webinars this fall explaining the changes following rule adoption.

EPA held a public meeting to discuss the process of negotiated rulemaking on changes to Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) requirements for inorganic byproducts on May 9 and May 10, 2017. EPA is establishing a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee) under the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act). The objective of the Committee is to negotiate a proposed rule that would limit CDR requirements, under TSCA subsection 8(a), for manufacturers of any inorganic byproducts when such byproducts are subsequently recycled, reused, or reprocessed. EPA held a public meeting prior to the establishment of the Committee to share information and clarify inorganic byproducts identification and reporting. For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting/negotiated-rulemaking-committee-chemical-data-reporting-requirements.

The EPA has published an Annual Report on Risk Evaluation. The reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires EPA to identify the chemical substances that will undergo risk evaluation every year, including those for which risk evaluations will be initiated and those for which risk evaluation will be completed. The Report also identifies the resources necessary to complete these tasks.

In mid-January, EPA appointed 18 expert members to serve on the Agency's Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). EPA published the names and biographical information for the SACC panel members on the TSCA Scientific Peer Review Committees website.

The SACC's purpose is to provide independent advice and expert consultation, at the request of the EPA Administrator, with respect to the scientific and technical aspects of risk assessments, methodologies, and pollution prevention measures or approaches. Members of the SACC possess expertise in scientific and technical fields relevant to chemical risk assessment and pollution prevention, including human health and ecological risk assessment, biostatistics, epidemiology, pediatrics, physiologically-based pharmacokinetics modeling, toxicology, pathology, and chemical exposure to susceptible life stages and subpopulations (including women, children, and others). In addition to scientific expertise, members also have backgrounds and experience that will contribute to the diversity of scientific viewpoints on the committee, including professional experience in government, labor, public health, public interest, animal protection, and industry.

The Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) is an association of state, local, and tribal governments that promotes a clean environment, healthy communities, and a vital economy through the development and use of safer chemicals and products.

The purpose of the IC2 e-Bulletin is to inform IC2 members and others of the activities of the Clearinghouse, its members, and related national and international programs. It is published approximately three times per year and is provided free. Funding for the e-Bulletin is provided by the IC2 membership. Previous issues are available.

The IC2 is a program of the Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA). NEWMOA provides management and staff support for IC2 and serves as its fiscal agent.

Members

Supporting Members

The IC2 invites businesses, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, consultants, and others to join the Clearinghouse. Supporting Members sign a Memorandum of Agreement demonstrating support for the principles of the Clearinghouse and provide annual dues to help fund baseline activities. All IC2 Supporting Members are eligible to participate in the IC2 Council, in IC2 Workgroups, and in webinars.

For more information, contact Topher Buck, 617-367-8558 x309.

If you work for an IC2 Member or Supporting Member, consider becoming active in one or more of the IC2's Workgroups. These provide a great opportunity to work on critical projects and to collaborate with others that are insightful and dedicated to improving public health and the environment through the development and use of safer chemicals and products.

Alternatives Assessment Workgroup
The IC2 Alternatives Assessment Workgroup supports state and local development of alternatives assessment (AA) methods, coordinates with other organizations involved in AA activities, and makes resources, common protocols, and results available to the IC2 membership.

Database Workgroup
The IC2 Database Workgroup assesses the chemical data needs and priorities of the IC2 membership and develops IC2 data and information systems to address those priorities. The Workgroup has reviewed a variety of chemicals databases and has developed several online systems.

Governance, Outreach, & Recruitment Workgroup
The IC2 Governance, Outreach, and Recruitment Workgroup maintains the Clearinghouse's governance framework, including membership criteria, member contributions, Board structure, and overall goals and objectives. The Workgroup also leads member recruitment and outreach efforts.

Procurement Workgroup

• Discussing how patterns of chemical use can inform environmentally preferable procurement
• Defining how states and municipalities can work together to enhance the market for less toxic products
• Identifying what product categories would be good targets for action
• Sharing specification language and informing individual or joint procurement
• Working with large vendors to harmonize green product claims with state requirements

Training Workgroup
The IC2 Training Workgroup plans informational and technical training sessions for the IC2 members. These trainings, in conference call and webinar formats, are presented approximately four times per year.

If you are interested in any of these groups, visit the IC2 website or write to Topher Buck.