Policy
Good environmental policy assures safe drinking water, clean air and healthy children, and the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program is a model of good policy. The Institute's policy research assesses, develops, and evaluates specific initiatives that public agencies can implement to reduce toxins used in and the toxic byproducts released from industry and communities.
Science Advisory Board (SAB)
To bring together science and policy, the Governor appoints this nine member Science Advisory Board (SAB). TURI manages their deliberation and considers their advice on issues such as regulation of toxic chemicals according to relative toxicity and the creation of higher and lower hazard listing.
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The policy analyses summary for Cadmium, Cadmium Compounds and TCE are available for download from this link. |
The SAB also advises the Institute on the addition or deletion of chemicals from the TURA chemical list. The public is empowered to request listing or delisting, and is welcome to attend any of the meetings of the SAB.
Chemical Restrictions
To protect the environment and the health of citizens of the State, further toxics management policies may be necessary in the future to reduce the risks of toxins. As required by the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1998, the Institute conducts studies on innovative environmental policies and monitors state, national and international policies. Workshops and presentations are offered to government, industry and communities on these emerging issues in law. Two reports on chemical restrictions published by the Institute can be ordered from the Institute Librarian.
Evaluation of the TURA Program
The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program was established in 1989 by the Toxics Use Reduction Act, and revised in 2006 (TURA)[Full Text]. The statute promotes safer and cleaner production that enhances the economic viability of Massachusetts firms. Several program evaluation reports have been published, offering
- validation and analysis of toxics use and release data,
- survey of TUR filers' experience,
- in-depth investigation of the effectiveness of toxics use reduction under TURA at 25 Massachusetts firms
- analysis of costs and benefits attributable to TURA; and an assessment of the TURA agencies' success in fulfilling their mandates under the Act,
- and more.
Public Administration and Model Policies
The Institute engages research and dialogue on emerging policy topics, such as sustainability, safe consumer products, environmental economics, qualitative valuation and multi-stakeholder process, risk, environmental justice, children's health, and policies that support competitiveness in local industry. TURI offers assistance to communities and government agencies to help them formulate and implement policies that promote toxics use reduction, and has worked with several communities to help them develop model policies to reduce toxins and promote pollution prevention at the local level.
This page updated Thursday March 13 2008