On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, the U.S. Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing on S. 697, the Frank R.
Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The following
individuals testified during the hearing: James Jones, Assistant Administrator
for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA); Dr. Richard Denison, Senior Scientist, Environmental
Defense Fund; Dr. Edward McCabe, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical
Officer, March of Dimes Foundation; Dr. Lynn Goldman, Dean, Milken Institute
School of Public Health, The George Washington University; Ken Cook, President
and Co-founder, Environmental Working Group; and The Honorable Brian E. Frosh,
Attorney General, State of Maryland. In addition, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and
Mrs. Bonnie Lautenberg provided statements. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s
(B&C®) summary analysis of the hearing is available online.
While biobased chemicals were not discussed, they were at least
mentioned. Specifically, Senator Debra Fischer (R-NE) asked Jones whether
biobased chemicals could be considered “low priority” under S. 697.
The response was predictably vague, but the fact that the question was asked is
noteworthy.
B&C has posted a
comprehensive analysis of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st
Century Act, which includes significant changes to the current
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) framework. The analysis includes an
overview of critical modifications from previous bills, as well as commentary
on the politics surrounding the bill’s introduction.