http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/05/agreement_reached_on_lautenberg_chemical_safety_bi.html
Agreement reached on Lautenberg chemical safety bill
Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 20, 2016 at 5:11 PM, updated May 20, 2016 at 5:12 PM
WASHINGTON — Legislation to update a 40-year-old law requiring that chemicals be tested for safety could pass Congress as early as next week as House and Senate lawmakers agreed on a compromise bill.
The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency to test chemicals using "sound and credible science" and impose regulations if they are shown to pose a health risk.
The EPA would set priorities for evaluating chemicals and would not first have to show they pose a potential risk. Manufacturers could ask the EPA to evaluate a particular chemical if they are willing to cover those costs.
The agreed-upon measure combined elements of the Senate legislation approved in December and the House measure that passed that chamber last June.
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"As with any compromise, this legislation balances the priorities and interests of multiple stakeholders, while producing an agreement that pragmatic industry, environmental, public health and labor groups can ultimately support," said former Rep. Cal Dooley (D-Calif.), president and chief executive of the Washington-based American Chemistry Council.
Still, Jeff Tittel, president of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said his organization would oppose the Lautenberg bill because it allows the federal government to prevent states from imposing tougher regulations of chemicals. State restrictions enacted on or after April 22 could be pre-empted by federal regulations, though they could apply for waivers.
"That to us is a deal killer," Tittel said. "I don't think the senator would support weakening protections in New Jersey."
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