House Amends Nano Law to Strengthen Focus on Health, Environmental Risks
June 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org
Richard Denison, 202-387-3500, rdenison@edf.org
(Washington, D.C. – June 6, 2008) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 5940) by a vote of 407-6. EDF says the measure will help address critical environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns that could arise from use of nanotechnology.
“The bill calls for much-needed changes both in the planning and decision-making processes of the NNI as they relate to EHS questions,” said Dr. Richard A. Denison, a senior scientist for Environmental Defense Fund. “It should also improve the extent and transparency of EHS-related information to be made publicly available. Overall, this bill should help substantially to achieve a better balance between the federal government’s dual roles in developing and advancing nanotechnology and in identifying and reducing its potential risks.”
EDF identified the following provisions as being particularly noteworthy:
| Bill Provision | Current problem addressed |
| Public information: Requires development and maintenance of a public database that identifies each EHS-related project funded under the NNI, its source and amount of funding, and its relevance to the major EHS research objectives. | Lack of transparency in NNI’s public accounting for the amount of funding and relevance of currently funded activities to addressing EHS research needs. |
| Independent advice: Establishes “as a distinct entity” an Advisory Panel and requires designation of a subpanel whose members have expertise specific to EHS and other societal dimensions. | Corrects current use of the White House’s PCAST as the NNI’s advisory/oversight body; ensures appropriate expertise among advisors. |
| Senior coordinator for EHS activities: Designates an associate director within OSTP to oversee agency activities to address EHS (and other societal) concerns. | Lack of individual with responsibility and authority to conduct super-agency oversight of EHS efforts. |
| EHS research plan: Mandates detailed plan with interim milestones, actual and estimate needed timing and resource allocations to achieve identified objectives. | Failure of NNI to develop a comprehensive, accountable EHS research strategy. |
| Green nanotechnology: Expands mandate of NNI-funded research centers to include research to develop safer nano products and applications and foster technology transfer and education on green nanotechnology. | No specific focus on such directed research currently. |