1. Minnesota Chemical Regulation
and Policy Project
Work Group
Meeting
October 26, 2011

2. Green Chemistry
• Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that
reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.
• Applies across the value chain – product
design, formulation, manufacture, use, disposal.
• Positive momentum for Green Chemistry as an economic development
opportunity:
– Emerging and established companies – Segetis, BioAmber, Cargill
NatureWorks, Ecolab, 3M, etc.
– Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum – business/NGO networking
group
– BioBusiness Alliance Bioindustrial Partnership

3. Green Chemistry
Draft Recommendation Proposal
Minnesota Green Chemistry Innovation Council
• Recommendation: Create a Minnesota Green Chemistry
Innovation Council by Governor’s Executive Order
• Need:
– Increase economic development through the promotion of
new Green Chemistry businesses in Minnesota;
– Improve the sustainability and access to markets of existing
Minnesota businesses through Green Chemistry process
improvements and product development.

4. Green Chemistry
Draft Recommendation Proposal
• Function: Develop and recommend strategies to:
– Promote collaboration and synergies between entities;
– Identify ways to align existing initiatives and interests;
– Raise public awareness of Minnesota Green Chemistry
businesses and products;
– Identify sources of funding and incentives.
• Structure: Cross-sector membership to demonstrate public and
private sector leadership and engagement.
– Potential mechanisms to support green chemistry
development include: business
support, education, research, public outreach.

5. Science and Risk
Assessment
• Risk assessment is the process of determining the probability that exposure to
chemical contaminants or other environmental stressors will harm human or
ecosystem health.
Risk = toxicity (hazard) + exposure
• New approaches to risk assessment have the potential to increase the accuracy
and efficiency of risk assessment by:
– pushing problem formulation to the forefront;
– accounting for cumulative risk and multiple exposures;
– using chemical mode of action information in determining risk.
• Work Group recognizes the need to identify and evaluate emerging
methodologies in order to facilitate the transition to advanced approaches to risk
assessment.

6. Science and Risk Assessment
Draft Recommendation Proposal
Project to Evaluate Emerging Risk Assessment Methodologies
• Recommendation: Implement a project to test alternative risk assessment methodologies to
improve risk assessment in Minnesota
• Need: Identify and analyze new or underutilized risk assessment approaches to enable better
risk management decision-making. Guiding principles and priorities for adopting new
approaches include:
• increased precision and accuracy;
• decreased uncertainty;
• utilizing chemical mode of action information;
• accounting for cumulative risk;
• cost effectiveness and efficiency; and
• high level of confidence in the data and risk assessment conclusions by all
stakeholders.

7. Science and Risk Assessment
Draft Recommendation Proposal
• Function: Two Phases
– Phase 1 – inventory existing methods, data requirements, and
relevant policy implications
– Phase 2 – test and analyze alternative methods (vs. standard
approaches) against the guiding principles
• Structure: Assessment and analysis performed by a designated
researcher with oversight and advisement from a cross-sector Project
Advisory Committee

8. Policy and Risk
Management
• Federal reform of TSCA is needed and recommended improvements to
state policy in Minnesota should complement and integrate with the
current and anticipated future framework for chemical regulation at the
national scale.
• Status quo for state chemicals policy is not working.
• Decision-making in the face of scientific uncertainty will continue to be
a challenge.
• Improved chemicals policy must be based on sound science and should
enable increased understanding of chemical risk, benefits and
management by decision-makers and the public.

9. Policy and Risk Management
Draft Recommendation Proposal
Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP)
• Recommendation: Create a Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP) for the
state of Minnesota
• Need: Provide a forum for scientific discussion and debate outside the policy
realm
• Function: The CSAP will serve as an independent advisory body and will
respond to specific requests (“charge”) from either the legislative or executive
branch
• Structure: 6 highly qualified members from the scientific community
appointed to serve on the panel with the ability to call in other experts as
needed on an ad hoc basis

10. Pathway for inputs and outputs of the Chemical Science Advisory Panel (CSAP)
Executive MPCA/MDH
Branch Commissioner
CSAP Proposal Full Report
• Work plan • 2/3 majority
• Budget
• Timeframe
Legislative LAC via •
Committee Chair Ad hoc
Branch Legislative Auditor members
or Legislator
• Screen for
relevance/imp
ortance
Criteria
Relevant to MN environment or population
Disputed issue of science where independent review is helpful

11. Project Roadmap
November 16 – Work Group Meeting
St. Paul Student Center – MN Commons Room
1) Review draft report outline
2) Tweak and refine recommendations
3) Prepare for second public input meeting
November 30 (Tentative) – Public Input Meeting #2
December 7 – Work Group Meeting
UROC – Room 105
1) Review public input
2) Finalize and approve recommendations
January 2012 – Online public comment period
Final Report complete

12. Final Report Outline
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
– Background
– Project Structure
– Phase I Outcomes
– Phase II Goals
• Recommendations
– Policy and Risk Management
– Science and Risk Assessment
– Green Chemistry
– Include background info/context, responsibilities, timeframes
• Appendices
– Work Group Roster
– Charge to the Work Group
– Resources and Additional Supporting Material/Examples
– Public Comments received