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new, cleaner technologies. This requires us both to develop pollution prevention 

 technology and to move these technologies into commercial use by disseminating in- 

 formation and removing institutional obstacles. 



The adoption of a pollution prevention ethic is a logical development in a toxics 

 program, given the focus of the program on improving environmental protection 

 through changes in the manufacture, processing, and use of chemicals in our society. 

 Fundamentally, we believe a toxics program should push for use of safer chemicals 

 and processes in the basic operations of the industrifd sector. 



Empowering the public with information is the second core environmental policy. 

 The creation of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), established in Section 313 of the 

 Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), lead the way to 

 a new era of public disclosure and a more constructive dialogue between citizens 

 and industry on emissions reduction and pollution prevention. As we look to the fu- 

 ture, it is liicely that this "right to know" approach will expand and become a part 

 of environmental policy in several areas. For a toxics program, it is almost inevi- 

 table that the "right to know" ethic will expand to other chemical information. 



At EPA, we hope to incorporate these two policy trends into our programs in an 

 intelligent and responsible manner, recognizing that pollution prevention may not 

 always be a possible or even the most effective course of action, and recognizing that 

 empowerment of the public carries with it the need to provide the information and 

 education that the public needs to make sound decisions. For example, we need to 

 develop effective strategies for communicating the real risks posed by various chemi- 

 cals in commerce. We believe that the principles of pollution prevention and right 

 to know should be the foundation of our toxics program now and in the future. 



As we consider the contributions that a toxics program can make to pollution pre- 

 vention and the "right to know", there are several key roles that EPA must take 

 on. We have articulated these ideas in a three-part strategy: 



1. Provide information and tools that lay the basis for empowering the broadest 

 possible initiative from industry, the public, and government; 



2. Help to set goads, both in terms of a specific chemical agenda and of a broader 

 environmental ethic for chemical management; and 



3. Target direct efforts to areas where pollution prevention is needed to reduce 

 risk. 



This strategy calls upon most of the traditional TSCA work, including information 

 collection, testing, new chemical review, and chemical specific risk management. Let 

 me consider each element of this strategy in turn. 



1. Provide information and tools to empower others: The most effective way for 

 OPPT to encourage and empower others' participation in chemical management is 

 to deliver key environmental information to states, other Federal agencies, industry 

 and the public on the risks of chemicals of concern. The public release of environ- 

 mental data gives everyone the ability to participate in the broader national effort 

 to set a toxics agenda and address chemical issues based on the extent of risk posed. 

 This strategy reflects our appreciation of the growth in size, sophistication and capa- 

 bilities of those groups outside EPA that seek to improve environmental manage- 

 ment and performance. The states, local governments, industry, labor unions, public 

 interest groups and grass-roots community groups are increasingly finding ways to 

 work together on environmental improvements. 



In many cases EPA's major contribution to the resolution of disputes is the sup- 

 plying of useful information. This part of the strategy also is a realistic response 

 to the resource Umits of the Federal government. We cannot hope to solve all prob- 

 lems of chemical management through direct EPA action. 



As one example of this, our organization has been actively seeking ways to foster 

 and enhance the participation of individual states in chemical management by pro- 

 viding them with TSCA derived chemical data. Already we have given states some 

 of the tools necessary to more effectively determine what risks exist in their local 

 communities and to target their compliance and enforcement of State and Federal 

 laws. As a former State regulator, I know the value of site specific information in 

 risk assessment and priority setting. 



In addition, the Office is actively seeking enhanced methods of disseminating in- 

 formation submitted as Notices of Substantial Risk under Section 8(e) of TSCA and 



