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Oregon Toxics Reduction Strategy:Tools and Initiatives
June 25, 2013 - NW NAHMMA Conference
Kevin Masterson, Oregon DEQAgency Toxics Coordinator
Why Develop Strategic Approach to Reducing Toxics?
• Toxics don’t respect program boxes:– Pollutants released to air deposit to land
run off to water
• Gets us beyond chemical-by-chemical approach, while still prioritizing chemicals
• Increases efficient use of resources by taking a more integrated and strategic approach
• Complements existing DEQ toxics programs– E.g., “alternative implementation strategies” for WQ
Human Health Toxics Standards
DEQ Toxics Reduction Strategy: Identifying High-Priority Chemicals
• “Focus List” of 51 chemicals or groups of chemicals– Based on existing agency priority lists– Diverse range of chemicals– Overlaps with priorities of other organizations
• EPA Chemical Action Plans• Large national retailers
– List is not static – expect changes over time
Oregon DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Strategy Finalized in 2012
• 25 Recommended Actions in Strategy– 5 short-term priorities (2012-2014)
• Overarching theme collaboration• Actions complement and support:
– Columbia River Toxics Reduction Action Plan– Governor’s Green Chemistry Executive Order
2012 Oregon Executive Order: Promoting Green Chemistry
• Executive Order No. 12-05: “Fostering Environmentally-Friendly Purchasing and Product Design”
• Signed April 27, 2012• Key components:
Develop outreach strategy for businesses to apply green chemistry (select 2 sectors)
Develop proposals to incentivize green chemistry through new or existing programs
Develop inter-agency toxics reduction strategy to ensure efficiencies and address gaps
Strengthen demand for low toxicity products through state purchasing practices and guidelines Janitorial Supplies Pilot
Short-Term Priority Action:Partnering with Retailers on Reducing Toxics in Consumer Products
• Support work of retail businesses to reduce toxics in their product supply chains- Find opportunities to
advance mutual goals common chemicals of concern lists
- Share experiences with government purchasing initiatives
Short-Term Priority Action:Deliver Integrated Technical Assistance
• Combining efforts of multiple programs and agencies to advance safer alternatives in two industry sectors – Identify and implement safer alternatives where
feasible– Identify needs for green chemistry research and
incentives
Short-Term Priority Action:Expand Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships
• Build on program that uses environmental monitoring data to focus collaborative actions and measure outcomes
• Broad support for legislative funding package
Short-Term Priority Action:Expand Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships
• Build on program that uses environmental monitoring data to focus collaborative actions and measure outcomes
• Broad support for legislative funding package
Short-Term Priority Action:Collecting Unwanted Pesticides
• Establish Statewide Pesticide Collection Program– Legacy pesticides a
threat to waters, but (unlike WA) no dedicated funding source in Oregon
– Periodic events show increasing quantities collected
Interstate Collaboration on Green Chemistry
• Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2)– Purpose: share information on chemicals of concern
and assessing safer alternatives for state, local and tribal governments
– Databases and resources for: • chemical hazard assessments • chemical use disclosure data • state priority chemicals• state chemicals policies
– Draft Alternatives Assessment Guidance: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/ic2/aaguidance.cfm
