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Voluntary Standards and Government: Working Together

Voluntary Standards and Government: Working Together. A Positive Collaboration Benefits Both the Public and Private Sectors Presentation by Mary C. McKiel, Ph.D. Standards Executive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Government Mission. Protect and serve the public

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Voluntary Standards and Government: Working Together

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  1. Voluntary Standards and Government: Working Together A Positive Collaboration Benefits Both the Public and Private Sectors Presentation by Mary C. McKiel, Ph.D. Standards Executive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  2. Government Mission • Protect and serve the public • Protect individual rights • Advance societal values • Interact with global governments • Promote trade of domestic products • Protect national security

  3. Voluntary Standards For: • Managing environmental, health and safety • Interoperability and reliability of product components • Chemical and biological compound identifications, product testing, measuring, verifying • Design and performance of simple and compound products from toothbrushes to telecommunications devices

  4. Similarities Regulations Voluntary Standards • Based on Market and Business Relevance (Demands or Needs) • Development Process • Voluntary • Based on Health & Welfare (Legitimate Objectives) • Development Process • Mandatory

  5. Government Use of Voluntary Standards • Adopted as federal or state codes or laws • Building codes • Fire codes • Fasteners • Adopted by reference into procurement and regulations • Environment and Health Regulations • Federal Procurements • Consumer product safety requirements • Homeland security measures • Implementation ‘tools’ for government voluntary programs • Leadership recognition programs • Beyond-compliance improvement programs

  6. Voluntary Standards in U.S. Federal Regulations • U.S. Law on Standards: The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 • Agencies directed to use standards and participate in their development • Agencies directed to report annually to Congress

  7. US Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects human health and the environment by: • Issuing mandatory regulations under authorities provided by US law • Enforcing regulations directly or through delegations to individual US States • Implementing voluntary environmental programs • Promoting environmental technology development and transfer • Working internationally on mutually beneficial environmental policies and programs • Sharing technical and environmental expertise with other countries

  8. Voluntary Standards in EPA Regulations • Test methods from ASTM, NFPA, SAE and others in regulations for chemicals, air, water and waste. • Management and disposal methods for underground storage tanks • Risk assessment methodologies

  9. One Mission – Multiple Strategies • In addition to regulations and enforcement, EPA uses voluntary standards in: • Voluntary programs to promote pollution prevention; • Recognition for ‘beyond compliance’ performance • Promotion of government goals in non-government activities

  10. Examples from EPA • Electronics recycling partnership with computer manufacturers based on IEEE 1680 standard • Water Sense program for improved product water efficiency based on nationally accredited third party certification • Green buildings recognition program based on ASTM and other standards

  11. Government Participation in the Voluntary System • Membership and leadership in ANSI as national standards body • Active participation in domestic and international standards development through organizations such as ASTM, ISO, NFPA, SAE, UL and others • Leadership roles in accreditation oversight as members of ANAB

  12. Emerging and Critical Issues: Government and Private Sector Together • Public / private sectors join together to identify and understand local, regional and international emerging or critical issues, for example: • Nanotechnology • The energy crisis • Homeland security

  13. Example: ANSI Standards Panels • Wide range of public / private sector experts • identify existing standards • Identify gaps in standards • Help define roles for government and private • Dialogue in a non-regulatory venue • Meaningful networking • Organization of actions and initiatives without establishing additional and potentially burdensome controls • Mutual understanding of who is going to do what • Access to issue-appropriate standards development organizations

  14. Public sector Efficiency in resource allocation Effectiveness in regulatory process Possible cost savings Confidence in utility of the standard Cost saving in maintenance of standard Private Sector Efficiency in resource allocation Improved confidence in technical aspects Possible cost savings in implementing regulations Positive impact on ability to market Benefits: A Few Examples

  15. Dr. Mary C. McKielUS EPA Standards ExecutiveMC7101M1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NWWashington, DC 20460 T: +1.202.564.0532 E: Mckiel.Mary@epamail.epa.gov Contact Information

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