ASSE Member Reports on Connecticut Action Impacting Chemicals
ASSE members involved in GA-related activities are encouraged to share the work they are doing on behalf of their fellow members. The following summary was prepared by Tom Benedict, who is President of the Connecticut Valley Chapter and shared this with ASSE. Thanks, Tom. The bill can be found at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/TOB/H/2010HB-05126-R01-HB.htm.
New Connecticut Chemical Innovations — Institute at UCONN Health Center
Submitted by Tom Benedict, CSP, CPEA, CHMM
In a literal eleventh-hour vote, the Connecticut Legislature passed legislation (Substitute House Bill 5126) creating a Chemical Innovations Institute in one of its last actions of the 2010 legislative session. The new Institute will be housed at the UCONN Health Center and is intended to “(1) foster green job growth and safer workplaces through encouraging clean technology innovation and utilization of green chemistry, and (2) provide assistance to businesses, state agencies and nonprofit organizations that seek to utilize alternatives to chemicals that are harmful to public health and the environment.”
The Bill was advanced by the Coalition for A Safe & Healthy CT, a diverse coalition of 50 member organizations. I had the opportunity to attend an exploratory meeting back in April on the then-proposed Bill, hosted by the Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA), one of the Bill’s proponents. The April meeting was attended by interested representatives from CPHA, manufacturing industries, labor unions, environmental health organizations, the Connecticut DEP, UCONN Health Center, and the CT Coalition for Environmental Justice.
At the meeting, ideas were solicited on how the Institute could be of value to industry in accomplishing the goal of seeking safer alternatives to toxic chemicals currently used in commerce. The notion of being a local, Connecticut clearinghouse for safer chemical alternatives and “green chemistry” appeared to be at the forefront of the ideas suggested.
Now that the Bill has passed, it will be up to an appointed Board of Directors (TBD) to decide how to implement the mission bestowed on the Institute. Since funding for the Institute will rely completely on grants and donations obtained by the Institute, it remains to be seen how much of an impact the Institute will be able to make.
Additional details, including the legislative text, Bill analysis, fact sheets, and public testimony can be found via internet searches on the term “Connecticut Chemical Innovations Institute”.