Monitor Power Costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, EDF, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791 (cell)

(Washington — October 7, 2008) “The release today of new draft climate legislation by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell and Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher is further confirmation that passing cap and trade legislation remains high on the agenda of congressional lawmakers and a boost for prospects of a bill next year.

“We appreciate that Chairmen Dingell and Boucher are moving forward with their bill in this critical economic time for America. Cap and trade is the energy security and economic revitalization policy we desperately need: one that creates new manufacturing jobs that can’t be outsourced and investment in clean energy that doesn’t come from unfriendly nations overseas.  

“The unbending science demands that we reduce global warming pollution far enough – and fast enough – to protect us from the worst consequences of climate change.  The near-term targets and timetables in the current draft of the proposal fall far short of that goal. EDF will continue to push for strong emissions reduction targets in the early years of the program as discussions move forward. Importantly, their proposal appears to manage costs without provisions that would bust the emissions cap.

“We look forward to working with the chairmen, along with leadership and the new president, to pass a bill that protects the climate and delivers the economic stimulusAmerica needs now more than ever.”

###

About Environmental Defense Fund

A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org

Europe adopted sweeping new chemical rules last year

Last year, the European Union adopted its sweeping new chemicals regulation — Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) — under which companies must register all chemicals they place on the EU market in annual amounts above one metric ton. A hallmark of REACH is its identification of so-called "substances of very high concern" (SVHCs).  REACH’s intent is ultimately to allow use of such SVHCs only when each use has been specifically authorized. To jumpstart that process, European environmental nongovernmental organizations have developed a list of chemicals that meet REACH’s criteria used to identify SVHCs.

Dangerous chemicals list will have ripple effect in U.S.

Across the Pond [PDF] examines the extent to which these SVHCs are produced in or imported into the U.S., and by which companies, in which states, and in what amounts. It also examines how many of these chemicals have been tested or regulated in the U.S. The analysis concludes that:

• Dangerous chemicals (SVHCs) are produced or imported in 37 states as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, at as many as 78 sites per state.
• At least 85 SVHCs are produced and imported annually in amounts of one million or more pounds, and at least 14 exceed one billion pounds annually in the U.S.
• Only about a third of such chemicals have been tested under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
• Only two of these SVHCs — asbestos and hexavalent chromium — have been subjected to any regulation in the U.S., and even then only for very narrow uses of these dangerous substances.

Taken together, our findings suggest that REACH’s designation of SVHCs can be expected to have a major impact on chemical production and use in the U.S. and on the companies that make, export or import chemicals.

Resources

• Report: Across the Pond [PDF]: Assessing REACH’s First Big Impact on U.S. Companies and Chemicals
• Data tables [PDF] referred to in the report
• News release: Hundreds of U.S. Chemicals and Companies Will Be Impacted by European REACH Regulation