Green Ribbon Science Panel Subcommittees to Discuss SCPA Regulations

Three Subcommittees of the Green Ribbon Science Panel (Panel) have scheduled several teleconferences between April 4 and April 19, 2011, to discuss potential revisions to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) Safer Consumer Product Alternatives (SCPA) regulations. These teleconferences are open to the public and comments may be provided. The three Subcommittees and the scheduled teleconferences are as follows:

• Chemical Identification and Prioritization Subcommittee: This Subcommittee had its first teleconference on April 4, 2011. During this teleconference, Subcommittee members discussed three main topics: (1) whether there should be a single list of substances (e.g., “Chemicals of Concern”) or two hierarchical chemical lists (e.g., “Chemicals of Concern” and “Priority Chemicals”); (2) what criteria or process should be used to place chemicals on a list(s); and (3) should the chemical list(s) be limited to specified chemicals or chemical categories during early implementation years. With regard to one or multiple lists, there were some Subcommittee members that thought there should be one universal list, and that the regulations should develop the process for creating that list. Several others advocated two lists, with one list consisting of a larger number of substances that would “put people on notice” as to those substances that could be considered for further regulation, with a second list that was a subset of the first that identified substances that would be subject to the alternatives assessment process. While no one would state how many substances would be on this second, more focused list, there were comments that the number could be between 2 and 100; and comments that DTSC’s budgetary constraints could also be a factor. With regard to the discussion on the criteria and process to list substances, there were comments that using authoritative bodies could be helpful, but there were also discussions regarding several sources of information for identifying chemical hazard and exposure factors. The next teleconference is scheduled for April 13, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (PDT). According to the agenda, the Subcommittee is expected to continue the dialogue about chemical identification and prioritization.
   
• Product Identification and Prioritization Subcommittee: This Subcommittee has two teleconferences scheduled on April 11, 2011, and April 19, 2011. Both teleconferences are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (PDT). The agenda for the April 11, 2011, teleconference has been posted on DTSC’s website, and indicates that the main discussion will be based on reviewing and commenting on a document entitled “GRSP Topic #2 – Product Identification and Prioritization.” That document does not yet appear on DTSC’s website.
   
• De Minimis and Unintentionally-Added Chemicals Subcommittee: This Subcommittee has two teleconferences scheduled on April 6, 2011, and April 18, 2011. Both teleconferences are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (PDT). The agenda for the April 6, 2011, teleconference has been posted on DTSC’s website, and indicates that the main discussion will be based on reviewing and commenting on a document entitled “GRSP Topic #3 – De Minimis and Unintentionally-Added Chemicals.” That document, which has been posted on DTSC’s website, lists three questions, each with several sub-questions: (1) what should be the de minimis level/criteria (to exempt a Priority Product from the alternatives assessment process); (2) what process should be used to allow an exemption for a Priority Product that contains the chemical at or below the de minimis level; and (3) what should be the criteria for allowing an exemption when the product contains the chemical only as an unintentionally-added chemical (to exempt a Priority Product from the alternatives assessment process).

As noted, the teleconferences are open to the public. The discussions held by the Subcommittees during these teleconferences are intended to help inform the discussions by the full Panel when it meets on May 5-6, 2011, in Sacramento.

Agenda, meeting notices, other meeting materials, and how to access the various teleconferences are available online.