Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Forty-two organizations oppose a June 17 draft of amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) intended to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The signatories argue the draft contains flaws that would hinder the EPA's ability to regulate new POPs, contradicts the treaty's precautionary principle by requiring a 'reasonable balance' between health and economic costs, and introduces 'sound science' requirements that could invite litigation. They further criticize the draft for establishing a regulatory ceiling that prevents the U.S. from implementing stricter standards than the Convention minimums and for including preemption language that could void state and local protections. The organizations advocate for a draft proposed by Representative Solis, which they claim better enables the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations while preserving domestic environmental law.

• The June 17 Discussion Draft is criticized for failing to mandate EPA action when the Stockholm Convention adds new POPs to the treaty, even if the U.S. supports the decision.
• The draft's requirement for EPA to find a "reasonable balance" between human health, the environment, and economic costs is viewed as a direct contradiction of the Stockholm Convention's requirement to act in a "precautionary manner."
• The signatories argue that the draft introduces "sound science" requirements that would likely lead to increased litigation rather than improving the quality of EPA decision-making.
• The draft is accused of creating a regulatory ceiling that prohibits the EPA from implementing standards more stringent than the minimums set by the Convention.

APA

Goldtooth, Guth, J. H., Harden, M., Harvie, J., Hathaway, J., Hind, R., Hirshfield, M., Hurwich, E. M., Igrejas, A., Kropp, T. J., Larson, D., McPherson, A., Miller, P. K., Monk, D., Nudelman, J., Patton, S., Perciasepe, B., Perry, K. L., Jr., G. T. S., ... Wright, M. J. (2004). Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-joins-41-environmental-health-and-labor-organizations-urging-congress-to-support-effective-legislation-to-implement-the-stockholm-pops-convention/

Chicago

Goldtooth, Joseph H. Guth, Monique Harden, Jamie Harvie, Julia Hathaway, Rick Hind, Mike Hirshfield, et al. Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Center for International Environmental Law, 2004. https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-joins-41-environmental-health-and-labor-organizations-urging-congress-to-support-effective-legislation-to-implement-the-stockholm-pops-convention/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Goldtooth |last2=Guth |first2=Joseph H. |last3=Harden |first3=Monique |last4=Harvie |first4=Jamie |last5=Hathaway |first5=Julia |last6=Hind |first6=Rick |last7=Hirshfield |first7=Mike |last8=Hurwich |first8=Evelyn M. |last9=Igrejas |first9=Andy |display-authors=etal |title=Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=1 September 2004 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-joins-41-environmental-health-and-labor-organizations-urging-congress-to-support-effective-legislation-to-implement-the-stockholm-pops-convention/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{goldtooth2004proposed, author = {Goldtooth and Guth, Joseph H. and Harden, Monique and Harvie, Jamie and Hathaway, Julia and Hind, Rick and Hirshfield, Mike and Hurwich, Evelyn M. and Igrejas, Andy and Kropp, Timothy J. and Larson, Denny and McPherson, Alexandra and Miller, Pamela K. and Monk, David and Nudelman, Janet and Patton, Sharyle and Perciasepe, Bob and Perry, Karen L. and Jr., G.J. Thomas Sadler, and Schafer, Kristin S. and Schettler, Ted and Sease, Debbie and Small, Gregg and Smith, Carl and Thorp, Lynn and Walsh, Bill and Waskow, David and Wiser, Glenn and Wright, Michael J.}, title = {{Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2004}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-joins-41-environmental-health-and-labor-organizations-urging-congress-to-support-effective-legislation-to-implement-the-stockholm-pops-convention/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }