(499b) Responsible Care Program, Basics And Benefits

In 2002, a revitalized Responsible Care program was launched at the American Chemistry Council that now requires members of the American Chemistry Council to implement and certify a Responsible Care management system for their chemical operations and corporate support structure. This repositioning creates a business value proposition that produces continuous environmental, health, safety, product stewardship, and security performance improvement, beyond legislative and regulatory requirements, and these results, combined with the Program's promotion of performance excellence and increased public participation, can be converted to business value opportunities with federal, state, and local governments, with customers, with the financial sector, and with other external stakeholders.

There are numerous Responsible Care business value initiatives complete or underway, including:

? TCEQ Clean Texas: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) formally recognized Responsible Care certification as meeting the EMS and subsequent third-party certification requirements of the Clean Texas program in June 2006. The Clean Texas program is the state equivalent of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program; ? American Waterways Operators (AWO): In July 2006, ACC entered into an agreement with AWO formally recognizing auditing efficiencies between Responsible Care and AWO's Responsible Carrier program. This Agreement benefits members and Partners with marine/barge operations by offering them a combined audit, saving time and money; ? EPA Performance Track: In June 2004, ACC and EPA entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that recognizes and promotes efficiencies between EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program and Responsible Care, including use of an environmental management system (EMS), commitment to public outreach and continuous performance improvement, and coordinated audits. The MOA significantly streamlines the Performance Track online application for Responsible Care-certified facilities; ? Environmental Council of the States (ECOS): The Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) was endorsed by an ECOS resolution as a model management system in October 2004. ECOS represents the fifty state environmental commissioners;

This presentation will focus on Responsible Care business value and its connections with the environment. This presentation will also include core information about the Responsible Care program (RCMS and RC 14001).