What is Toxics Use Reduction
Toxics use reduction, or TUR, encompasses the range of pollution prevention strategies aimed at minimizing the input of toxic materials or chemicals in a given product or manufacturing process to reduce the generation of harmful or hazardous wastes.  TUR techniques include:

• Input substitution
• Product reformulation
• Production unit redesign or modification
• Production unit modernization
• Improved operation and maintenance of equipment and methods
• Integral recycling, reuse, or extended use of toxics

More information about TUR and pollution prevention is available here.

About the Toxic Use Reduction Act (TURA)
Since 1990, the successful TURA program has helped Massachusetts businesses reduce toxics use by 41% and waste byproducts associated with that use by 65%.  These reductions have lowered chemical transportation risk, workplace hazards, and toxics in manufactured products and have helped Massachusetts businesses remain competitive in a global economy.    

A principle reason for TURA’s success is that companies covered by the program are required to develop and use a chemical tracking system.  The tracking system helps companies understand their use of chemicals and where losses occur in the manufacturing process.  Companies annually report their chemical use and the waste generation from the use to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). 

These same companies develop plans that identify options and alternatives to reduce the use of these chemicals.  When alternatives are available that make good business sense, companies frequently adopt these strategies, leading to more efficient chemical use and a reduction in waste generation.  Companies provide the MassDEP with a progress update every other year.  A factsheet with additional information about the TURA reporting and planning requirements is available from the MassDEP http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/turafact.pdf.

The TUR Act was amended in 2006 (Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2006) to build on the program’s success and to meet the challenges of manufacturing in a global economy.  Significant changes to the TUR Act include:

• Streamlined reporting requirements for industry
• Emphasis on more hazardous chemicals and a lower reporting threshold for those chemicals to 1000 pounds
• Flexibility for companies to prepare resource conservation plans every other planning cycle for energy, water, or materials that contribute to solid waste
• Encouraging businesses to increase environmental performance through the development and implementation of an environmental management systems (EMS)

For more information about the 2006 amendments to TURA see the MassDEP factsheet http://www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/turlegfs.pdf.

TURA Program Resources
Every company that uses toxics in the Commonwealth has access to three state organizations that can help them identify alternatives and comply with the requirements of the Act.  The three TURA program divisions and their services include:

The Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA)

The Administrative Council On Toxics Use Reduction
The Administrative Council is the governing body of the TURA program and is responsible for program policy oversight.  The six-member council is chaired by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles; and is charged with coordinating state enforcement of laws and regulations on chemical use and toxic waste generation, implementing policies that promote worker health and safety, and safeguarding public health.  Key responsibilities of the Council include:

• Making determinations on petitions to list and delist chemicals
• Maintaining the chemical reporting list for the TURA program
• Designating higher and lower hazard substances
• Designating priority user segments
• Evaluating and setting reporting fees

The council meets several times each year and all meetings are open to the public.  The most recent agendas, meeting minutes, and handouts for those meetings are listed below.

Administrative Council Meeting - April 16, 2008
Agenda

Handouts:
Data Considered by the Science Advisory Board - Appendix C
TURI Policy Analysis: Recommendation to Take No Action on Certain CERCLA Chemicals That Have Been Reported By TURA Filers
TURI Policy Analysis: Recommendation To Retain Certain CERCLA Chemicals That Have Been Reported By TURA Filers
TURI Policy Analysis: Recommendation to Take No Action On Certain CERCLA Chemicals That Have Been Reported By TURA Filers: Sodium Phosphates
TURI - Financial Analysis For Garment Cleaners: Implications of Participating in the TURA Program
Proposed Higher Hazard Designation for PCE: Questions and Answers about Implications for Dry Cleaners
Summary: Financial Analysis For Garment Cleaners: Implications of Participating in the TURA Program

Administrative Council Meeting - March 5, 2008
Agenda
Administrative Council Minutes - 3/5/2008

Handouts:
Policy Analysis for Perchlorethylene - Draft - Mar 4 revisions
Policy Analysis for Butyl Alcohols
Administrative Council Schedule
TURA Program Outreach for Higher Hazard Substances

Administrative Council Meeting - December 11, 2007
Agenda
Administrative Council Minutes - Dec. 11, 2007

Handouts:
Final Proposed Amendments 301 CMR 41.00 Toxic or Hazardous Substance List
Final Proposed Amendments 301 CMR 40.00 Toxic Use Fee
Response To Comments On Proposed Amendments To 301 CMR 40.00 Toxics Use Fee And 301 CMR 41.00 Toxic Or Hazardous Substance List

Handouts:
Legal Notice
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Policy Analysis
Cadmium and Cadmium Compound Policy Analysis
Proposed Amendment Background Document
Draft Proposed Amendments 301 CMR 40.00 Toxic Use Fee
Draft Proposed Amendments 301 CMR 41.00 Toxic or Hazardous Substance List

Administrative Council Meeting - July 31, 2007
Agenda
Administrative Council Minutes - Jul. 31, 2007

Handouts
2006 TURA Reporting and Planning Regulation Amendments
DEP TUR Amendment Background Document
DEP TUR Proposed Regulation Amendments
DEP Notice of Public Hearing

Questions concerning the Administrative Council can be directed to Rich Bizzozero at 617-626-1080. 

Advisory Committee to the Administrative Council
The Advisory Committee to the Administrative Council is composed of fifteen stakeholders that provide the Council with a forum for discussing TURA implementation issues.  The fifteen members include representation of environmental advocacy, public health, labor, industry and the general public.  Committee members are appointed by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.    

The advisory committee meets several times each year and all meetings are open to the public.  The most recent agendas, meeting minutes, and handouts for those meetings are listed below.

Advisory Committee Meeting - May 5, 2008
Agenda

Handouts:
Financial Analysis for Garment Cleaners: Implications of Participating in the TURA Program
Summary: Financial Analysis for Garment Cleaners: Implications of Participating in the TURA Program
Proposed Higher Hazard Designation for PCE: Questions and Answers about Implications for Dry Cleaners
Policy Analysis: Draft Recommendations on CERCLA chemicals that have never been reported by TURA filers
Appendix 2: Regulatory information on CERCLA chemicals that have never been reported under TURA
Scientific Data Appendices - Cercla

Advisory Committee Meeting - March 10, 2008
Agenda
Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 3/10/2008

Handouts:
Appendix C - Data Considered by the Science Advisory Board
TURI Policy Analysis: Recommendation to take no action on certain CERCLA chemicals that have been reported by TURA filers
TURI Policy Analysis:: Recommendation to retain certain CERCLA chemicals that have been reported by TURA filers

Advisory Committee Meeting - January 28, 2008
Agenda
Advisory Committee Minutes - Jan. 28, 2008

Handouts:
TURA Program Outreach Strategy For Higher Hazardous Substances
Science Advisory Board Briefing
Draft Policy Analysis - Perchloroethylene - Jan. 9, 2008.pdf
Draft Lower Hazard Substance Policy Analysis
Preliminary Advisory Committee Schedule for Calendar year 2008

Agenda
Advisory Committee Minutes - Nov. 19, 2007

TURA Program Regulatory Changes

TURA Program Amendments
MassDEP recently amended the TURA program regulations to conform to the 2006 statutory amendments.  The final regulations are now available to download on MassDEP's web site.

Brief Explanation and Rationale for Changes:
The Phase 2 regulatory amendments implement statutory changes that affect planning requirements under TURA, including new options for resource conservation planning and environmental management systems (EMSs). They establish new planning alternatives available for plans due by July 1, 2008. There are approximately 600 facilities subject to TURA in Massachusetts, many of which will be able to take advantage of the new options.  TURA facilities that have completed a toxics use reduction (TUR) plan and two plan updates may choose either to develop a resource conservation plan (addressing energy use, water use, solid waste, or non-reportable toxics) or implement an EMS in lieu of further TUR plan updates.

The regulatory revisions are the second of two sets of revisions.  The first set of revisions, promulgated in June 2007, addressed statutory changes affecting reporting requirements.

For more information contact John Fischer at MassDEP at 617-292-5632

Toxics Use Fee and Toxic or Hazardous Substance List
The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles announces the promulgation of the revisions to 301 CMR 40 - the Toxics Use Fee and 301 CMR 41 the Toxic or Hazardous Substance List.

Disclaimer:OTA provides these file for the convenience of users. Please be aware that the OFFICIAL versions of all state statutes and regulations are only available through the State Bookstore or from the Secretary of State’s Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) Subscription Service.

TURA News/Updates
Massachusetts Tier II Reporting Requirements
The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology would like to remind you that TIER II Reports are due March 1, 2008. Facilities covered by Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements must submit an Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and the local fire department annually. For more information visit the EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/epcra/tier2.htm. The EPA also provides a fact sheet, in addition to the reporting forms and other supporting documents. Specific information for Massachusetts companies can be found on the EPA site as well.

Chemical Facility Security Regulations (Updated 2/22/2008)
On November 20, 2007 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final Appendix A (list of covered chemicals) in the Federal Register for the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS).  The deadline for companies to submit their CFATS “Top Screens” was January 22, 2008.  For more information visit the DHS website.  A helpdesk is available at 866-323-2957 or contact them at csat@dhs.gov. For more information on the applicability of this new regulation to your facility, contact OTA at 617-626-1060.

Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Manifest Regulations
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has promulgated the final regulations relating to the new hazardous waste manifest. The current Hazardous Waste regulations, along with MassDEP's responses to the comments on draft manifest amendments submitted after the proposed regulations were published on MassDEP’s website: http://mass.gov/dep/recycle/laws/regulati.htm#hw.  A summary of the regulations is available in this document.  If you have questions on the hazardous waste manifest please contact the Office of Technical Assistance and Technology at 617-626-1060.

TUR Progress
Through toxics use reduction over the last 15 years, Massachusetts businesses have reduced chemical transportation risks, workplace hazards, and reduced toxics in products, reduced waste, and saved money. The Toxics Use Reduction Program has helped Massachusetts industry reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated by over 60% and chemical use by over 40%.

In 2004, 632 facilities reported the use of 181 listed toxic substances. According to the 2004 TURA data, the 2000 Core Group* reduced in calendar year 2004: