Minnesota Chemical Regulation and Policy Project

Public Input MeetingOctober 12, 2011

Public Input Meeting

AGENDA

5:00 Welcome and Introductions

Project Background and Overview Draft Proposals

5:30 Roundtable Discussions/Input Sessions

Policy and Risk Management

Science and Risk Assessment

Green Chemistry

6:30 Reconvene and Report Back

7:00 Close

Who is Environmental Initiative?

20-year-old environmental nonprofit organization

Mission: Build partnerships to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota’s environmental problems.

Environmental solutions through three areas of work: Events Dialogue Action

Events

Networking, diverse perspectives, access to experts

Business and Environment Series Environmental Initiative Awards Policy Forum Series

Action

Project Green FleetOver 2,000 cleaner engines

operating statewideAverage of 2 tons of particulate

matter reduced per day

Other Action ProjectsAutobody Refinishing Industry

ProjectHabitat for Humanity Green

Demonstration House

Dialogue

We facilitate conversations with private- and public-sector leaders to achieve policy and other environmental solutions for a cleaner, stronger Minnesota.

Minnesota Chemical Regulation and Policy Project – Intro & Background

Purpose:

Recommend improvements to Minnesota’s approach to chemical regulation and policy

Identify opportunities to incentivize and promote green chemistry principles and practices

Project Funders

3M

Ecolab

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Phase 1: January – July 2010

Goals: Refine issues and opportunities Assess policy mechanisms to identify approaches that may be

applicable in Minnesota Recommendation regarding proceeding to Phase II

Opportunities: Collaborative approach MN unique/value-added Resource efficient/promote economic development Sound science Information, education, communications

Charge for Phase II

Identify and analyze the effectiveness of regulations and policies currently in place at the state and federal levels and determine if they do (or could) adequately address the opportunities the group highlighted in Phase I

Where needed, recommend improvements to Minnesota’s system of regulating and managing chemicals

Evaluate opportunities to integrate promotion of and incentives for product design that incorporates principles of green chemistry and life-cycle analysis into a recommended policy framework

Phase II Project Structure

20 member Work Group Sub-groups tasked to develop

recommendation proposals

9 meetings: June – December 2011 6 meetings to date Two public input meetings (Fall 2011)

Planning Team provides input and advice to Environmental Initiative between meetings

Risk assessment is the process of determining the probability that exposure to chemical contaminants or other environmental stressors will harm human or ecosystem health.

Risk = toxicity (hazard) + exposure

New approaches to risk assessment have the potential to increase the accuracy and efficiency of risk assessment by:

pushing problem formulation to the forefront;

accounting for cumulative risk and multiple exposures;

using chemical mode of action information in determining risk.

Work Group recognizes the need to identify and evaluate emerging methodologies in order to facilitate the transition to advanced approaches to risk assessment.

Science and Risk Assessment

Project to Evaluate Emerging Risk Assessment Methodologies

Recommendation: Implement a project to test alternative risk assessment methodologies to improve risk assessment in Minnesota

Need: Identify and analyze new or underutilized risk assessment approaches to enable better risk management decision-making. Guiding principles and priorities for adopting new approaches include:

increased precision and accuracy;

decreased uncertainty;

utilizing chemical mode of action information;

accounting for cumulative risk;

cost effectiveness and efficiency; and

high level of confidence in the data and risk assessment conclusions by all stakeholders.

Science and Risk Assessment Draft Recommendation Proposal

Function: Two Phases Phase 1 – inventory existing methods, data requirements, and

relevant policy implications Phase 2 – test and analyze alternative methods (vs. standard

approaches) against the guiding principles

Structure: Assessment and analysis performed by a designated researcher with oversight and advisement from a cross-sector Project Advisory Committee

Science and Risk Assessment Draft Recommendation Proposal

Federal reform of TSCA is needed and recommended improvements to state policy in Minnesota should complement and integrate with the current and anticipated future framework for chemical regulation at the national scale.

Status quo for state chemicals policy is not working.

Decision-making in the face of scientific uncertainty will continue to be a challenge.

Improved chemicals policy must be based on sound science and should enable increased understanding of chemical risk, benefits and management by decision-makers and the public.

Policy and Risk Management

Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP)

Recommendation: Create a Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP) for the state of Minnesota

Need: Provide a forum for scientific discussion and debate outside the policy realm

Function: The CSAP will serve as an independent advisory body and will respond to specific requests (“charge”) from either the legislative or executive branch

Structure: 6 highly qualified members from the scientific community appointed to serve on the panel with the ability to call in other experts as needed on an ad hoc basis

Policy and Risk Management Draft Recommendation Proposal

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

MPCA/MDHCommissioner

CSAP

Committee Chair or Legislator

LAC viaLegislative Auditor

Pathway for inputs and outputs of the Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP)

Criteria

Relevant to MN environment or populationDisputed issue of science where independent review is helpful

Criteria

Criteria

Charge

Charge

Proposal• Work plan• Budget• Timeframe• Ad hoc

members• Screen for

relevance/importance

Full Report• 2/3 majority

60 days

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.

Applies across the value chain – product design, formulation, manufacture, use, disposal.

Positive momentum for Green Chemistry as an economic development opportunity: Emerging and established companies – Segetis, BioAmber,

Cargill NatureWorks, Ecolab, 3M, etc. Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum – business/NGO

networking group BioBusiness Alliance Bioindustrial Partnership

Green Chemistry

Minnesota Green Chemistry Innovation Council

Recommendation: Create a Minnesota Green Chemistry Innovation Council by Governor’s Executive Order

Need:

Increase economic development through the promotion of new Green Chemistry businesses in Minnesota;

Improve the sustainability and access to markets of existing Minnesota businesses through Green Chemistry process improvements and product development.

Green ChemistryDraft Recommendation Proposal

Function: Develop and recommend strategies to:

Promote collaboration and synergies between entities;

Identify ways to align existing initiatives and interests;

Raise public awareness of Minnesota Green Chemistry businesses and products;

Identify sources of funding and incentives.

Structure: Cross-sector membership to demonstrate public and private sector leadership and engagement.

Potential mechanisms to support green chemistry development include: business support, education, research, public outreach.

Green ChemistryDraft Recommendation Proposal

Questions? Anything that needs clarification?

What do you like about the proposal? What works well?

What concerns you? What would you change? Why?

Input Stations / Roundtable Discussions