NAMC.org - Official Site of the North American Metals Council

The North American Metals Council (NAMC) is an unincorporated, not-for-profit group formed to provide a collective voice for North American metals producers and users (i.e., the North American “metals industry”) on science and policy-based issues that affect metals in a generic way. Formed in 2004, NAMC represents North American metals producers and users, joined together by a shared interest in and vision for metals.

NAMC membership enables members to remain aware of important legal, regulatory, and science policy issues pertinent to their interests and respond in a timely manner. NAMC member companies reflect diverse commercial interests in a wide range of metals and metal industries along all aspects of the value chain. NAMC currently has 23 members, 5 of which are Steering Committee members.

NAMC provides a collective voice for its members to contribute to developments in the science of metals and help advocate policies and regulations that are reflective of metal’s unique characteristics and benefits. As noted in EPA’s the “Framework for Metals Risk Assessment:”

Metals are naturally occurring constituents in the environment and vary in concentrations across geographic regions

All environmental media have naturally occurring mixtures of metals, and metals are often introduced into the environment as mixtures

Some metals are essential for maintaining proper health of humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms

Metals, as chemical elements, and unlike organic chemicals, are neither created nor destroyed by biological or chemical processes, although, these processes can transform metals from one species to another (valence states) and can convert them between inorganic and organic forms

The absorption, distribution, transformation, and excretion of a metal within an organism depend on the metal, the form of the metal or metal compound, and the organism’s ability to regulate and/or store the metal.

In its ongoing advocacy efforts, NAMC will continue to highlight the importance of recognizing the specialized needs for metals risk assessment.

NAMC is engaged in a wide variety of advocacy and science policy matters in North America that affect the interests of its members. We actively monitor and/or engage in advocacy with respect to programs affecting many metals. As a result, NAMC’s ability to share intelligence on regulatory initiatives timely and efficiently is unparalleled.

By advocating its members’ interests during the development stages of regulations and policies, NAMC is able to help shape the programs while they are still malleable. See “About NAMC” for a brief summary of legislative and regulatory initiatives in which NAMC has or will be engaged.

SELENIUM WORK GROUP
NAMC is also home to the Selenium Workgroup, which is comprised of a diverse group of entities with interests in selenium scientific and regulatory issues. See “The Selenium Workgroup” page for more information on the Work Group’s activities and research papers.