Regulatory oversight demanded in Silicon Valley
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) published a report entitled Regulating Emerging Technologies in Silicon Valley and Beyond. The report aims to provide a case study of the regulatory landscape faced by Santa Clara County in the 1980s, when the electronics industry was in the headline for chemical spills from the numerous plants located in that area.
'The current landscape with respect to environmental knowledge about nanotechnology is eerily similar to the landscape of the 60s for basic chemicals,’ said Sheila Davis, Executive Director of SVTC. ‘Landmark environmental acts passed in the 70s and 80s are out dated and do not apply to nanotech. We also lack monitoring and detection technology, and cleanup practices have not been established.’
The report gives specific recommendations based on the experience gathered 20 years ago:
- Nanomaterials should be treated as new materials (rather than “grandfathered in”), and they should be subject to EPA’s new chemicals program
- Environmental monitoring and remediation technologies should be developed in conjunction with new facility installation
- California chemical policy reform should make special provisions for emerging technologies
- Include nanomaterials in emergency planning and community right-to-know reporting requirements
Follow this link to download the full report, or to read more about the report on the Nanowerk website.