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Elk River Disaster Prompts National Business Call for Better Regulations, Support for West Virginia Businesses That Have Lost Millions

Elk River Disaster Prompts National Business Call for Better Regulations, Support for West Virginia Businesses That Have Lost Millions

Published 02-19-14

Submitted by American Sustainable Business Council

In response to the January contamination of the Elk River in West Virginia, the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and business leaders across the country have joined with West Virginia businesses’ demand for better state regulations for chemicals and chemical storage facilities. A petition with over 100 West Virginia business owner signatures was delivered to the legislature on Monday in anticipation of further action this week on “Water Resources and Protection Act” (SB 373), a state bill to address the problem. According to the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University, in the Charleston, West Virginia area, businesses lost approximately $61 million within the first week after the spill.

ASBC renewed its call for reforming federal regulations of chemicals to provide adequate protection from hazardous chemicals and promote innovation and creation of safer chemicals and products.

“West Virginia is only the latest chemical disaster that has harmed business communities and citizens,” said David Levine, CEO and co-founder of ASBC. “Which of the nation’s 13,000 poorly regulated chemical processing and storage facilities with unregulated hazardous chemicals will be next? Now is the time to seriously regulate hazardous chemicals and for government and business to work together to transition to safer chemicals for the good of our economy and communities.”

Nancy Ward, owner of Cornucopia in Charleston, WV, said, “In 27 years, we have never seen the kind of decline in our business as we have seen in the last month. People here have lost confidence in their government’s ability and desire to protect them and the environment from toxic chemicals. The disturbing thing is that many of our lawmakers are listening more closely to the industries being regulated than they are to the citizens and small businesses being harmed.”

Jeni Pettigrew Burns, owner of Ms. Groovy’s Catering in Charleston, WV, said, “The negligence of our industrial neighbors cost our city tens of millions of dollars, much of that in small business revenue. Communities look to government to protect the best interest of its citizens through crafting and enforcing solid legislation that will hold businesses accountable when they choose to do the wrong thing. It is my hope that as a result of this chemical spill, our local, state and federal government will begin to use health and safety as a litmus test when crafting stronger legislation in regards to chemical safety.”

“Crises like the West Virginia chemical spill remind us that we’re all downstream and vulnerable to hazardous chemicals due to our country’s outdated chemical policy (TSCA),” said John Replogle, CEO of Seventh Generation and a founding member of the Companies for Safer Chemicals Coalition. “It’s time to protect future generations and reform regulations on toxic chemicals now.”

Frank Knapp Jr., President & CEO, South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair American Sustainable Business Council Action Fund said, “Good regulations protect good businesses from the abuses of bad businesses. From toxic chemicals to Wall Street, it is wrong for some big businesses to maximize profits by shifting their liabilities to other businesses and the public. When those businesses complain about regulations, they do it for their own interests not ours.”

The American Sustainable Business Council and its member organizations represent more than 200,000 businesses nationwide, and more than 325,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers and investors. The council includes chambers of commerce, trade associations and groups representing small business, investors, microenterprise, social enterprise, green and sustainable business, local living economy and women and minority business leaders. ASBC informs and engages policy makers and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant and sustainable economy. www.asbcouncil.org

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American Sustainable Business Council

American Sustainable Business Council

The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) is a national coalition of mission-driven businesses, social enterprises and sustainable business networks working to create a vibrant, just and sustainable economy. What unites us is a deep belief that we must move to a new economy that is grounded in principles of sustainability and equity.

The Council represents over 55,000 businesses and enterprises and more than 150,000 executives, owners, investors, entrepreneurs and business professionals. It is comprised of partners, which are organizations that represent businesses and social enterprises as well as entrepreneurs, executives, owners and investors committed to building a vibrant, just, and sustainable economy.

ASBC promotes policy change by educating and informing the business community, policy makers and the media about the business case for change, and by engaging the leaders of businesses and enterprises in building broad support for the policies America needs. We work on a range of policy areas, including: financial reform, health care, chemicals policy, climate change and business taxes.

We believe that the policies that will lead us to a sustainable and just economy are also good for business and good for America. Making the right commitments and investments will produce more and better jobs, build strength in key technologies, and make the U.S. more independent and secure.

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