On May 9, 2006, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) released a report entitled Cloudy Skies, Chance of Sun: A Forecast for U.S. Reform of Chemicals Policy. A copy of the report is available at http://www.ciel.org/Publications/Cloudy_skies_9May06.html.

According to CIEL, the absence of “decisive” federal action on industrial chemicals has caused many states to address or to issue more restrictive requirements for certain chemicals. According to the report, at least six states have passed legislation or have issued some sort of executive order to restrict certain polybromionated flame retardants. According to the report, many Americans are concluding that “a new approach is needed to eliminate dangerous chemicals” in that the U.S. legal framework for regulating most industrial chemicals is out of date. The report also includes a short summary of problems with the Toxic Substances Control Act, concerns about the erosion of right-to-know laws, and the emergence of state chemical control restrictions.