For Immediate Release
Tuesday
November 17, 2009
Contact Information:
Steve Higley 202-552-8455
NPRA Makes Recommendations on Chemical Prioritization, Biomonitoring in Written Comments to House Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, D.C. – NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, submitted written testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection today as it convened a hearing titled "Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination."
“NPRA considers the existing federal chemicals regulatory framework to be a strong foundation for protecting the health of consumers and the environment, while simultaneously allowing for the development of products that enhance our standard of living and safeguard all aspects of health, safety and the environment,” the Association wrote. “NPRA and its member businesses support responsibly updating our chemicals risk management regulatory framework to recognize marketplace and scientific developments that have occurred over the past several years. …
“NPRA supports a tiered, targeted and risk-based approach to prioritization and chemical safety determinations, using well-founded and traditional approaches to risk assessment. Further, we view the approach to prioritization taken by Canada under its Chemical Management Plan, and the approach previously taken by the United States under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chemical Assessment & Management Plan (ChAMP), as models for a solid, scientific framework from which to build. …
“NPRA and its members are committed to protecting consumers and the environment, and, to that end, are supportive of sound and sensible modifications to existing chemicals risk management regulations. As modifications to TSCA are discussed, we urge policymakers to take into account the important considerations we have raised with regard to prioritization and the application of biomonitoring.”
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NPRA members include more than 450 companies, including virtually all American refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Our members supply consumers with a wide variety of products and services used daily in their homes and businesses. These products include gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, jet fuel, lubricants and the chemicals that serve as “building blocks” in making everything from plastics to clothing to medicine to computers.