July 10, 2007 (Sacramento) Legislation that would dramatically change California’s approach to the connection between toxic substances and public health passed a key hurdle today.  Assembly bill 558, authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer, passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee today with a vote of 5:2.  This bill, which would be the state’s most comprehensive approach to California’s chemical policy, partners with relevant industries to phase out the toxic and hazardous chemicals that we already know are making us sick.  Under AB 558, industries that use large quantities of toxic chemicals would be required to annually report their use of these chemicals, and develop plans to reduce their use of toxic chemicals.  This legislation would also assess fees on the use of the most dangerous toxic chemicals.  These funds would fund technical assistance and research efforts by scientists and regulators at the Department of Toxics Substances Control to help industries phase out toxic chemicals in their manufacturing processes and become more efficient with their use of toxic chemicals for which no alternatives exist.  Similar legislation was enacted in Massachusetts in 1989 and has reduced the use of toxics by 41% and reduced toxic byproducts by 61%.

“Every week more evidence emerges linking serious diseases to toxic chemicals in the products we use, the places, we work, the air we breathe, and the water we drink,” said Assemblymember Feuer.  “AB 588 is a sensible science-based approach to the problem.  We owe it to ourselves, to our environment and to our children to act now to protect all of our futures.”

Current California chemicals policy focuses on the end of the production process, after toxic chemicals have been incorporated into the products we use or are released to be dumped into toxic waste sites.  This bill would focus instead on helping industries reduce their use of toxic chemicals in the first place through innovation and research.

“AB 558 is a crucial step in shifting paradigm on toxic policy in California,” said Dan Jacobson, Legislative Director of Environment California.  “We support Assemblymember Feuer in his effort to reduce our exposure to dangerous chemicals.”