Workshop Session II: Tuesday, April 3, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Concentration: Workforce and Economic Development

Today, U.S. chemical plants needlessly put more than 100 million Americans at risk of poison gas disasters. In 2009, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would have created 8,000 jobs by requiring the highest risk plants to use safer available chemical processes, but it did not pass the Senate. Even without new legislation, the Obama administration can establish similar standards under the Clean Air Act, but will opponents in Congress try to block it?

During this workshop, panelists representing labor, environmental justice and chemical safety groups will discuss cost-effective ways to eliminate these risks locally and nationally.

Moderator:
Rick Hind, Legislative Director, Greenpeace

Presenters:
Kim Nibarger, Health and Safety Specialist, Health, Safety and Environment Department, United Steelworkers
Denise Patel, Project Coordinator, New Jersey Work Environment Council
Michele Roberts, Campaign and Policy Coordinator, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights
John Deans, Policy Analyst, Greenpeace