The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a public meeting in Washington, DC on June 12, 2006, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to discuss its Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) and to solicit comments on the initiative from interested parties.

EPA is developing the SDSI program to recognize companies such as formulators, building service contractors, distributors, facilities and others who voluntarily phase out or commit to phase out the manufacture or use of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants (NPEs).

ISSA is working with EPA in support of the SDSI program and will participate at the June 12 meeting.

NPE is a surfactant ingredient used in a variety of detergents and cleaning products. Both NPEs and their breakdown products, such as nonylphenol (NP), can harm aquatic life.

Companies that are eligible to participate in SDSI include chemical manufacturers, formulators, distributors, retailers, building service contractors, facilities and others who actively encourage the use of safer surfactants.

The June 12 meeting will be held at the EPA Headquarters Building, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20460-0001.

If you plan to attend the meeting please contact Kathleen Vokes, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, vokes.kathleen@epa.gov.

For more information on the SDSI program, click here.

More information on the SDSI public meeting can be found here.