Advances in Advances in

Chemical Policy Chemical Policy Reform in Reform in

Oregon: Oregon: 2009-2009-20112011

Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, PhD, MPHPhD, MPH

Program Director-Environmental Program Director-Environmental Health Health

Oregon Environmental CouncilOregon Environmental Council

Oregon Environmental Oregon Environmental CouncilCouncil

Oldest statewide environmental non-profit, founded in Oldest statewide environmental non-profit, founded in 1968.1968.

We bring Oregonians together for a healthy environment.We bring Oregonians together for a healthy environment.

OEC seeks proactive solutions that benefit all OEC seeks proactive solutions that benefit all Oregonians.Oregonians.

Strategic Focus:Strategic Focus: Protect kids from toxicsProtect kids from toxics Stop global warmingStop global warming Keep Oregon’s rivers cleanKeep Oregon’s rivers clean Promote healthy food & farmPromote healthy food & farm Ensure sustainable economiesEnsure sustainable economies

2009 Oregon Legislative Wrap-up~what we wanted

•HB 2141 Expand hazardous substance definition

•SB 631 Ban sale of dishwasher soaps with more than 0.5% phosphorus content

•SB 739 Require testing of residential wells for arsenic prior to property sale

•HB 2134 Improve lead based paint practice requirements for contractors

•HB 3037 Paint stewardship program

•HB 2999 Improvements to PURS

Oregon Legislature considers toxics in consumer products Scott Learn, The OregonianScott Learn, The Oregonian

March 29, 2009March 29, 2009

Should Oregon have more say over the chemicals used to make your baby's bottle, her toys, your dishwasher detergent and your sofa?The Legislature gets to answer that question this session, with a dozen bills targeting the chemical hazards of everyday life.

Potential toxics on the hit list range from fire retardants in upholstered furniture to phosphates in dishwasher soap to plastic additives in baby bottles and soft plastic toys.

2009 Oregon Legislative Wrap-up

~what we got

IPM in schools Diesel School bus retrofit requirement Pesticide Use Reporting System: sunset

extended, reporting area reduced to watershed from water basin

Ban on the sale of residential dishwasher soaps with more than 0.5% phosphorus content

Residential well testing for arsenic prior to property sale

School facility task force to assess environmental health of schools (IAQ)

Improved lead based paint practice requirements for contractors/remodlers

Deca PBDE ban

2009 Oregon Legislative Wrap-up~what we got

that we didn’t want

PURS defunded

School Facilities Task Force defunded

Worsening Budget Crisis Last revenue

forecast: short $500 Million

Non-Legislative Steps Forward

SB 737 implementation Priority Persistent

Pollutant List (118) DEQ’s Toxics Reduction

Strategy Fish Consumption Rate

update Oregon participation in

IC2 and alternatives assessment

Oregon Chemical Policy Roundtable

Building block of Building block of polycarbonate plasticpolycarbonate plastic

2 billion lbs a year 2 billion lbs a year produced in the U.S.produced in the U.S.

FDA action—stated FDA action—stated concern for infant concern for infant neurobehavioral neurobehavioral development from BPA development from BPA exposureexposure

Progress in other Progress in other states: CT, Minnesota, states: CT, Minnesota, WAWA

2010—Short Session2010—Short SessionBAN BPABAN BPA

Oregon ban on baby Oregon ban on baby bottle chemical fails on bottle chemical fails on

tie votetie vote http://tdn.com/

Coalition Building for the Coalition Building for the FutureFuture

•Oregon Environmental Council •Oregon League of Conservation Voters•Oregon Medical Association •Oregon Nurses Association •Oregon Physician’s for Social Responsibility •Oregon Public Health Association•OSPIRG •Oregon Toxics Alliance •Oregon Women’s Health & Wellness Alliance •Planned Parenthood •Rachel's Friends •Stand for Children •Tualatin Riverkeepers •Upstream Public Health•Willamette Riverkeeper

•AFSCME Local 88 & 3336 •Children First for Oregon •City of Portland•Coalition for a Livable Future •Community Health Partnership, Oregon’s Public Health Institute •Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs •Environment Oregon •Environmental Working Group (EWG) •Family Forward •Metro•MomsRising •Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides •Oregon Center for Christian Values •Oregon Center for Environmental Health•Oregon Conservation Network

Continuing to Raise Continuing to Raise AwarenessAwareness

Back to the Future-2011Challenges

industry and industry and business business pushbackpushback

tight state tight state budget climatebudget climate

fatigue for the fatigue for the issue among issue among other other

Back to the Future-2011Key Questions

How do we implement policies How do we implement policies to maximize resources in the to maximize resources in the face of increasingly limited face of increasingly limited resources?resources?

What are collective What are collective tools/resources/strategies tools/resources/strategies that maximize benefit?that maximize benefit?

How to leverage policy How to leverage policy activity from other states? activity from other states?

How to leverage policy How to leverage policy activity from existing statute?activity from existing statute?

What do we need to defend? What do we need to defend? What do we need to improve? What do we need to improve? 

Back to the Future-2011

Continue to build on current effortContinue to build on current effort Set measurable goals for toxic reduction Set measurable goals for toxic reduction

state-widestate-wide Identify key actions states and local Identify key actions states and local

governments can take that spur innovation governments can take that spur innovation while continuing to advance reforms to while continuing to advance reforms to chemical management policies chemical management policies

Push for federal reforms and preserving Push for federal reforms and preserving states ability to actstates ability to act

Prohibit the use of BPA in baby bottles, children’s food Prohibit the use of BPA in baby bottles, children’s food containers, & reusable water bottles containers, & reusable water bottles

Ensure other harmful chemicals are not used as a substitute for Ensure other harmful chemicals are not used as a substitute for BPA in baby bottles and children’s food and beverage containers. BPA in baby bottles and children’s food and beverage containers.

Gives consumers information to make informed purchasing Gives consumers information to make informed purchasing choiceschoices

Separate bill to implement a state-wide toxic reduction planSeparate bill to implement a state-wide toxic reduction plan

BPA -PLUS BanBPA -PLUS Ban

Investing in a Greener Infrastructure in Oregon

Invest in & build in-state institutional Green Chemistry research capacity.

Create incentives for investment.

Provide technical assistance to firms working toward safer alternatives.

Identify and invest in key sectors ripe for alternatives.

THANK THANK YOU!YOU!

reneep@oeconline.orgwww.oeconline.orgwww.oeconline.org