Strategic Framework

Overview

The Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2), under the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) conducted a strategic work planning process in 2018 and 2019 to guide the development of annual work plans from 2020 to 2022. In 2022, the period of the framework was extended through fiscal year 2025, or September of 2025. The initial planning involved an in-person meeting in Sacramento in October 2018, two full All Member surveys, three All Member meetings, and numerous deliberations and synthesis by the Executive Committee. Eleven actions comprising five strategic priorities emerged, and the core purpose, goals, and functions of the IC2 were affirmed.

The strategies and actions are the ideas of IC2’s community of participants forged in the strategic work planning process conducted in the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, and as reassessed and confirmed by the IC2 Board of Directors in the winter of 2022. These do not diverge from the IC2’s founding goals and functions, but rather, they are aimed at helping us achieve them. The tension between increasing organizational impact and working within finite resource constraints imbued the group’s discussion of each strategy and action and remains a challenge. These ideas are meant to influence the way workgroup priorities are identified and implemented as well as what actions are included in annual work plans. The level of effort invested in each will depend on members stepping up to take on leadership roles as well as the IC2’s ability to attract additional resources and streamline processes.

Purpose

The IC2 convenes state, local, and tribal governments with businesses, researchers, and nongovernmental organizations to promote the development and use of safer chemicals and products for a clean environment, healthy communities, and a vital economy.

Goals

• Enhance effectiveness and efficiency and reduce duplication of state, local and tribal government initiatives for safer chemicals and products through collaboration and coordination
• Increase access to and improve the quality of chemicals data, information, and assessment methods for agencies, businesses and the public

Services

• Data and information collection, management and dissemination, including chemical use reporting, lists of chemicals of concern, chemical hazard assessments and alternatives assessments
• Convene diverse stakeholders for greater collective impact and knowledge sharing through workgroups, roundtables, board and All Member meetings, and webinars
• Harmonize programs, policies, and methods among members and aligned agencies and organizations
• Identify and assess emerging issues

Current Responsibilities

Members and Supporting Members

Support the mission and goals of the IC2 and constitute a forum for collaboration and sharing professional advice and expertise. Suggest ideas for training webinars, member roundtables, and other engagements to advance understanding and coordination among members on priority and emerging chemical and product issues.

Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Provide and foster effective leadership for the IC2 to achieve its purpose, goals, and functions through regular meetings, administrative and financial oversight, and reporting. Make recommendations to the NEWMOA Board of Directors on organizational structure, roles, staffing, work planning, and budgets for the IC2. Increase external awareness of the IC2 and expand membership and engagement. Offer training webinars, member roundtables, and other engagements to advance IC2’s goals.

Alternatives Assessment (AA) Workgroup

Share updates and best practices and support the growth of a robust AA community of practice, particularly the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4). Populate the Chemical Hazard Assessment Database and the IC2 AA Library. Suggest or offer trainings and other engagements.

Database Workgroup

Develop, update, and maintain currency and accuracy of IC2 databases including but not limited to the High Priority Chemicals Data System (HPCDS) and the Chemicals of Concern Database.  Support new reporting requirements of member states. Suggest or offer trainings and other engagements.

Environmental Justice Workgroup (formed in 2021)

Support Clearinghouse members’ collaboration to explore and identify ways to address Environmental Justice through the work of the IC2 and develop a collective strategy. This workgroup will also work to bring in and elevate voices from Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) communities, and other historically marginalized groups to help inform workgroup priorities and strategies. Suggest or offer trainings and other engagements.

Governance, Outreach and Recruitment Workgroup (dissolved in 2022)

The IC2 Executive Committee, in consultation with the IC2 Board, dissolved this workgroup in 2022 and embedded its work into that of the Executive Committee.

PFAS Workgroup

Collaborate on PFAS reduction and replacement actions for products in current use, learning from but not replicating work being done around the country on environmental, human and wildlife health effects, health guidelines, environmental monitoring, uses and impacts, with a focus on prevention. Suggest or offer trainings and other engagements.

Procurement Workgroup

Facilitate cooperation among states, municipalities, NGOs, and companies to enhance the market for less-toxic products through procurement. Suggest or offer trainings and other engagements.

Local & State Government TSCA Coordination Workgroup

Support local and state government engagement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other stakeholders in the implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Training Workgroup (dissolved in 2022)

The IC2 Executive Committee, in consultation with the IC2 Board, dissolved this workgroup in 2022 and embedded its work into that of the Executive Committee and of all workgroups.

Strategies and Actions

The following strategies were initially identified as part of the 2020-2022 Strategic Framework as priorities by the IC2 community for workgroups to use in developing annual work plans. The level of effort invested in each will depend on member investment of time and resources as well as the IC2’s ability to attract additional funding and streamline processes.