ARCC Alert May 24, 2001

(Sent to all Senators)

Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator:

The Alliance for the Responsible Use of Chlorine Chemistry (ARCC), a major coalition of U.S. unions and companies, is writing to express its support for U.S. Senate ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  The Convention has been signed by the Administration.

ARCC has followed the POPs negotiations (and contacted the previous Administration and its chief negotiator on the issue) with three interrelated goals in mind: that the legitimate interests of America’s workers and companies be considered; that global environmental protections be identified and adopted; and that economic growth for both developed and developing nations be promoted.  We are pleased that the final version of the Convention achieves these goals.

The Stockholm Convention essentially extends successful U.S. regulatory standards and practices to create a harmonized global risk management policy for POPs products and by-products.  Signatories will commit to using “best available technology” to reduce by-product emissions.  They will be required to establish transparent national action plans to reduce POPs.  Additionally, a weight-of-science approach including health, environment and economic factors will be used when deciding whether additional substances should be subject to the Convention in the future.

Senate ratification of the Stockholm Convention is supported by the vast majority of U.S. industries, environmental groups and scientific organizations.  The unions and companies of ARCC urge you to support your colleagues sitting on the Committees of jurisdiction to consider and execute the necessary modifications to U.S. law.  The relevant environmental statutes should be opened for the express purpose of making the necessary modifications and for no other purpose.

Sincerely,