https://www.uschamber.com/environmental-affairs-and-sustainability

Environmental Affairs and Sustainability

The Environmental Affairs and Sustainability team promotes an enabling environment to ensure that the business community has the flexibility and policy tools it needs to succeed – for their shareholders, employees, customers and communities where they operate.

Introduction

Companies are increasingly interested in the intersection between public policy and their own sustainability efforts. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's environment and sustainability policy capability promotes an enabling environment to ensure that the business community has the flexibility and policy tools it needs to succeed – for their shareholders, employees, customers and communities where they operate.

Objectives

Ensure that policymakers support the creative and innovative approaches that companies are undertaking to address their environmental and sustainability challenges.
Promote voluntary, flexible – not one-size-fits-all or prescriptive – policy solutions that will unleash business innovation and economic and environmental progress.
Catalyze federal investments in research and development, infrastructure modernization, smart technologies, and export initiatives that support continued business leadership and growth in the sustainability space.

Services

Based on the recent survey and discussions with members, the environment and sustainability policy service offerings include:

Policymaker education – The Chamber is working to build awareness among policymakers and the public regarding the varied and substantial environmental and sustainability efforts being undertaken by the business community, including through the sharing of data, information, and best practices.
A supportive enabling environment – The Chamber works with members and stakeholders to identify and advocate for proactive policies and investments that will continue to empower companies to pursue and maximize the impact of their sustainability initiatives.

The initial 2018 policy agenda is focusing on climate and water issues.

For more information, contact Chuck Chaitovitz, vice president for Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at CChaitovitz@uschamber.com.

Recent Activity

CommentSep 25, 2018 - 9:45am

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for Listing Species and Designating Critical Habitat, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,193 (July 25, 2018); Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0006

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 September 24, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

CommentSep 25, 2018 - 9:45am

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,174 (July 25, 2018); Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0007

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce submits these comments in support of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposed revisions to regulations extending to threatened species most of the prohibitions for activities involving endangered species.1 The Chamber recognizes the need to protect species threatened with extinction, but urges the FWS to avoid unnecessary impediments to land and natural resources development. FWS can accomplish this by using sound science and tailored section 4(d) rules to balance endangered species protection with property rights and compliance costs when listing species and designating critical habitat.

CommentSep 25, 2018 - 9:45am

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of Regulations for Interagency Cooperation, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,178 (July 25, 2018); Docket No. FWS-HQES-2018-0009

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 September 24, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

LetterSep 12, 2018 - 3:30pm

S. 3021, "America's Infrastructure Water Act of 2018"

This letter was sent to the House of Representatives on S. 3021, “America’s Infrastructure Water Act of 2018.”

CommentAug 27, 2018 - 12:30pm

Comments on Proposed Action: Clean Water Act Hazardous Substances Spill Prevention

Submitted via www.regulations.gov August 24, 2018 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2018-0024 Mailcode: 28221T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460

CommentAug 23, 2018 - 1:45pm

Comments on Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act

August 23, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING Mr. James Belke and Ms. Kathy Franklin U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Land and Emergency Management (5104A) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20460

Press ReleaseAug 21, 2018 - 9:00am

U.S. Chamber Statement on EPA Affordable Clean Energy Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S.

CommentAug 20, 2018 - 5:15pm

Comments on Availability of Draft Toxicological Profile: Perfluoroalkyls

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 August 20, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

CommentAug 20, 2018 - 5:00pm

Comments on Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E O F T H E UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A NE I L L. BR A D L E Y EX E C U T I V E VI C E PR E S I D E N T & CH I E F PO L I C Y OF F I C E R 1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310 August 20, 2018 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

CommentAug 16, 2018 - 2:30pm

Problem Formulation Documents and General Guiding Risk Evaluation Principles"

The attached comments were submitted today to EPA regarding its notice, “Problem Formulations for the Risk Evaluations To Be Conducted Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and General Guiding Principles To Apply Systematic Review in TSCA Risk Evaluations; Notice of Availability.”