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(202) 624-3665
The core mission of the Cross-Media Committee (CMC) is to launch and implement innovative multi-media initiatives to increase the effectiveness of state and federal governments for preventing or reducing pollution and protecting public health and the environment. The current focus of the CMC and its subgroups is wide-ranging and includes management of chemicals and toxics, with special attention on mercury. The committee and its subgroups also focus on emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and nanomaterials as well as issues pertaining to the cleanup of federal facilities. In recent years, the committee has expanded its focus to include Green Chemistry and Design-for-the-Environment.
ECOS created the Cross-Media Committee in 2001 with the following Charter.
The following groups are active subgroups of the CMC:
As subgroups, the above groups undertake detailed work for the Cross-Media Committee in its various focus areas. The above subgroups report their policy recommendations to the wider ECOS membership through the Cross-Media Committee. Click on the above links to learn more about the CMC's subgroups.
Persons wishing to learn more about the CMC may contact Matthew Jones (mjones@ecos.org) at (202) 624-3665.
Recent News
Important Information
Meetings
Cross-Media Committee Resources
Recent News
ECOS Sends Letter to Pete Silva on Effluent Guidelines and Dental Amalgam
On August 19, 2010, ECOS sent a letter to EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Pete Silva, to urge that dental facilities be required to install and use seperator machinery to prevent amalgam mercury from entering sewer systems.
Steve Owens Sends Letter to ECOS on Mercury
On May 13, 2010, EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Steve Owens, sent a letter to ECOS acknowledging receipt of Resolution #07-1 "Implementing a National Vision for Mercury." In the letter, Mr. Owens thanks ECOS for sending EPA the resolution and resolves to continue working with state agencies to address the mercury issue.
ECOS Passes Resolutions on Hg, P2, DSMOA, TSCA CBI, and Nuclear Cleanup Budgets
During the Cross-Media Committee plenary session on March 24, 2010, the ECOS membership passed the following policy resolutions (click links for resolution texts):
State Access to Confidential Business Information under the Toxic Substances Control Act
Promotion of Pollution Prevention and Sustainability in Partnerships
Implementing a National Vision for Mercury
DSMOA and Federal-State Collaboration
Cleanup Budgets for the Nuclear Weapons Complex
In addition, during the Water Committee plenary session on March 24, 2010, the ECOS membership passed another resolution regarding:
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring
ECOS Publishes Report on Emerging Contaminants
In January 2010, ECOS published the Green Report, "State Experiences with Emerging Contaminants: Recommendations for Federal Action." The report contains a set of detailed case studies outlining state experiences with addressing emerging contaminants, including state laws and regulations as well as agency studies, programming, and prioritization decision-making processes. The report outlines some of the challenges states face in addressing the thousands of chemicals present in the U.S. environment, including risk communication. Recommendations from the ECOS Cross-Media Committee are also included in the document for how federal agencies might help states further address emerging contaminants. Notes are appended to the report that detail the committee's recent outreach to the federal government advocating for increased nanomaterials risk research and state-federal consultation. The report was funded in part through a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
Committee Publishes Tool to Prioritize Contaminants of Emerging Concern
The Cross-Media Committee, working closely with the ECOS Emerging Contaminants Work Group, recently finished developing a Tool to Prioritize Contaminants of Emerging Concern. The document is intended for use by environmental agency leaders and suggests key criteria for prioritizing emerging contaminants so that agencies can more readily use their limited resources to identify and address priority substances. The tool is merely suggestive of considerations that may aid the prioritization process and is flexible for being adapted to accommodate the unique needs and circumstances of individual agencies.
Committee Sends Thank-you Letter to Administrator Jackson for Resolution of the TRI Reporting Issue
On Oct. 30, the ECOS Cross-Media Committee sent a letter to US EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, thanking her for helping to resolve the reporting issue with the Toxic Release Inventory. View the letter here.
Committee Members Meet with White House and Federal Officials to Discuss Nanomaterials Risk Research
Representatives of the Cross-Media Committee and the Emerging Contaminants Work Group recently met with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and members of the federal Nanotechnology and Environmental Health Implications Working Group. Notes from the October 2009 meeting are available here.
ECOS Passes Resolutions Regarding Green Chemistry and Formerly Used Defense Sites
During the Cross-Media Committee plenary session on September 22, 2009, the ECOS membership passed the following policy resolutions (click links for resolution texts):
Promotion of Green Chemistry for Sustainable Economic Development and Protection of Public Health and the Environment
Department of Defense's Formerly Used Defense Sites Program Budget
ECOS Passes Resolution Regarding Mercury Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
During the Water Committee plenary session on September 22, 2009, the ECOS membership passed a resolution regarding mercury TMDLs as recommended by the Quicksilver Caucus. Click link for resolution text:
The Need for a National Mercury Reduction Implementation Strategy and Global Actions to Further Progress on Atmospheric Mercury Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Cross-Media Committee Sends Letter to the White House Regarding Nanomaterials Risk Research
On August 7, the ECOS Cross-Media Committee sent a letter to White House Office of Science, Technology and Policy Director, Dr. John Holdren regarding nanomaterials risk research. View a copy of the letter here.
US EPA Agrees to Work with States to Investigate More Comprehensive Approaches for Reducing Mercury Pollution
On July 8, Acting Associate Administrator for US EPA OCIR, Joyce Frank, sent a letter to leaders of the Cross-Media Committee thanking them for their June 11 letter requesting that US EPA engage with the states to investigate more comprehensive approaches for reducing mercury in the environment. Click here to view the letter. Click here to view the original request.
ECOS Passes Resolutions on Mercury and Federal Facility Cleanup Issues
During the Cross-Media Committee plenary session on March 23, 2009, the ECOS membership passed the following policy resolutions regarding mercury pollution and federal facility cleanup issues (click links for resolution texts):
Clarification of CERCLA Sovereign Immunity Waiver for Federal Facilities
Endorsement of the National Mercury Switch Recovery Program Memorandum of Agreement that Reduces Mercury in the Environment and Provides Flexibility to the States
Mercury Reduction, Stewardship, and Retirement
