| Summary: |
In December 2006, the city of Berkeley, California became the first government entity in the United States to approve a law requiring the reporting of nanomaterials used in local facilities. This document is from the December 5 City Council meeting and is the agenda item recommending the adoption of the ordinance and containing the text of the ordinance. Berkeley's law provides that all facilities that manufacture or use manufactured nanoparticles must submit a written disclosure to the city. This disclosure must contain the current toxicological profile of the nanoparticles and a description of how the facility will safely manage them. The ordinance applies to all particles with one axis less than 100 nanometers in length. Prior to the passage of the ordinance, Berkeley required disclosures of hazardous substances upon reaching a set threshold. This ordinance extends the disclosure to encompass all nanoparticle usage regardless of aggregate quantity. |