Co-hosted by the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG™), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and George Washington University (GWU)

August 5-7, 2014, at the GWU Campus in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

During this hands-on three-day workshop, you will learn about a variety of tools, methods, and models that can be used to assess the hazard and potential exposure of chemicals. Methods addressed will include hazard and risk screening for human health, ecotoxicity, and environmental fate.

The workshop includes in-depth presentations and hands-on sessions with EPA's computer-based models. Using these models, companies can identify potentially risky chemicals early in the development process and reduce risk by finding safer substitutes and/or processes before submitting them to EPA. They can also be used to help stakeholders identify potential chemicals of concern from existing chemical inventories or supply chains.

Invited presenters include EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) staff with experience in the EPA New Chemicals Program and Premanufacture Notification (PMN) review process.

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Learn how to conduct screening level hazard, exposure, and risk characterizations of your chemicals in the absence of measured data.
   
  
• Learn how EPA OPPT evaluates new and existing chemical notifications under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
   
  
• Learn how to use the Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR), Estimation Programs Interface (EPI) Suite™, Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECOSAR), OncoLogic™, and other modeling systems that EPA employs to perform chemical risk screening and prioritization activities.
   
  
• This workshop satisfies the training requirement toward Sustainable Futures (SF) participant graduation.
   
  
• SF graduates can be eligible to receive reduced regulatory review time for dual PMN/Test Market Exemption Application (TMEA) submissions.

BACKGROUND ON SUSTAINABLE FUTURES:

SF is a voluntary program that trains chemical companies in using the EPA computer models and methods to screen new chemicals early in the development process. The goal is to produce safer chemicals more reliably and more quickly, saving time and money, which results in getting safer chemicals into the market and in use.

The models and methods studied in the SF program are the same ones used by EPA when reviewing new chemicals under TSCA Section 5, a review required by law for all new chemicals, including biobased and renewable chemicals, before they are allowed into commerce. Thus, graduates of the SF program will be able to anticipate the outcomes of EPA evaluation through these models before formally submitting the new chemical for review. In addition, companies that graduate from the SF program are eligible to earn expedited review by EPA for pre-screened new chemical notices. More details on this and other benefits of SF training are available online.

DATES:

August 5-7, 2014

LOCATION:

George Washington University Law School
Lerner Hall
Map of campus

COST AND REGISTRATION:

The cost for the three-day workshop is only $300 per person.

To receive a registration form, send an e-mail with the subject line "Sustainable Futures Workshop Registration" to Kathleen Roberts at kroberts@bc-cm.com.

Space is extremely limited. All registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis.