MISSION STATEMENT

The Environmental Issues Task Group supports OHEIC in the management of environmental matters that are potentially significant to the plastics industry. To accomplish this mission, the Environmental Issues Task Group:

• Identifies and evaluates environmental issues of potential significance to the industry (or specific components thereof),
   
  
• Communicates these issues and their potential impacts to OHEIC,  
  
• Prepares recommendations for OHEIC consideration,
   
  
• Provides input and direction on specific legislative and regulatory proposals, and
   
  
• Supports development of guidance documents, training courses and other tools that enable SPI member companies to effectively manage environmental issues.

In carrying out this mission, the Environmental Issues Task Group coordinates its work activities with other SPI business groups.

STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

• Employees and other representatives of Class 1 SPI member companies are eligible to participate in the Environmental Issues Task Group's activities. The Task Group solicits broad participation to ensure that relevant sectors of the industry are represented.
   
  
• The Task Group strives to obtain the broadest possible consensus among members who are materially interested in and affected by its work activities and decisions.
   
  
• The Task Group Chair's responsibilities include:
   
  - reporting on Task Group activities and recommendations to OHEIC,
   
  - coordinating Task Group work assignments, and
   
  - developing Task Group meeting agendas in collaboration with SPI staff.
   
  
• The Task Group holds meetings as necessary to conduct its work activities. Meetings are held in person or via conference call. At a minimum, the Task Group meets in conjunction with each regularly scheduled OHEIC meeting. Task Group members also communicate electronically as needed to conduct work activities.
   
  
• The Task Group communicates on a regular basis with the full OHEIC committee. At a minimum, the Task Group reports to OHEIC at each regularly scheduled OHEIC meeting regarding its work activities and any recommendations.
   
  
• The Task Group establishes working groups as needed to address specific issues or otherwise accomplish its mission. A working group may be either permanent or short-term, depending on the nature of its responsibilities.
   
  
• Any documents produced by the Task Group will be offered for review by OHEIC prior to their public release.
   
  
• The Task Group is supported by SPI Public Policy staff. SPI staff responsibilities include: assisting the Chair in developing meeting agendas, maintaining a Task Group membership list, preparing minutes of Task Group meetings (including any action items) and coordinating with other SPI business units and sub-groups.

ISSUES MANAGEMENT PROCESS

• Issues may be identified by Task Group members, other SPI member companies, OHEIC members or SPI staff.
   
  
• Issues may be evaluated by the Task Group as a whole or delegated to a particular individual or working group.
   
  
• In evaluating the potential significance of environmental issues (and in developing recommendations to OHEIC), the Task Group (and its working groups, if any) considers the following criteria:
   
  * Does the issue relate specifically to the plastics industry? If so, which segments of the industry might be affected?
   
  * Might the issue result in significant obligations for SPI members?
   
  * Might the issue affect SPI member products, materials or markets?
   
  * How widespread might the impact(s) on SPI members be?
   
  * How might the issue affect small processors or other small company members?
   
  * Does the issue present an opportunity for SPI members to improve their environmental programs and/or performance?
   
  * Might this issue result in the setting of significant precedents?
   
  * Might other trade associations (CMA, APC, SOCMA, etc.) adequately manage the issue?
   
  
• Task Group deliberations on significant environmental issues are reported to OHEIC for its consideration.
   
  
• The Task Group takes action on issues identified by OHEIC as priority issues.
   
  
• The Task Group reports on its progress at regularly scheduled OHEIC meetings.

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