Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Hazardous Substances and Wastes, Dr. Marcos A. Orellana
Human Rights Council – 54th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Tim Johnson
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
And thank you, Special Rapporteur Orellana, for your report.
We appreciate your efforts to highlight the need to protect human health and the environment by addressing hazardous waste. We must all work together on this important issue and continue to strive for a healthier planet for everyone.
U.S. law regularly requires enhanced reporting of chemical data and the disposal of hazardous waste.
Such reporting helps our country and our communities understand how to best manage hazardous substances and wastes. We encourage all countries to pursue such reporting to better protect human health and the environment.
We are also working to address the effects of decisions or patterns of discriminatory land use that have too often overburdened marginalized racial, ethnic, Indigenous, and other communities due to the placement of polluting industries, hazardous waste sites, and landfills near their communities. This advances our goal of making environmental justice a reality for all.
Dr. Orellana, how can we better ensure that efforts to deal with hazardous waste is done in an equitable manner?
I thank you.
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