The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 18, 2024, the launch of an Outdoor Use Safer Choice label. According to EPA, this new label expands on its existing Safer Choice label and will identify outdoor use products — such as pet care products, fire defense products, and car, boat, or grill cleaners — that meet additional EPA criteria to help protect the environment. EPA states that it examines every ingredient, no matter its...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called for nominations on September 18, 2024, of scientific and technical experts that EPA can consider for service as ad hoc peer reviewers to assist the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with the peer review of the draft risk evaluation for 1,3-butadiene conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 76467. EPA states that it will submit the draft risk evaluation of 1,3-butadiene and associated...
September 17, 2024
OECD Publishes Synthesis Report on Understanding Perfluoropolyethers and Their Life Cycle
On September 12, 2024, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report entitled Synthesis report on understanding Perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) and their life cycle. OECD states that the report presents a synthesis of publicly available information on PFPEs with the aim of elucidating the identities of PFPEs on the global market and analyzing their life cycle. OECD notes that this includes their production and use, presence of other per- and polyfluoroalkyl...
The Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule requires manufacturers (including importers) to report data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every four years. The 2024 submission period began June 1, 2024, and will end September 30, 2024. The CDR rule requires all companies to report data electronically using e-CDRweb through EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) system. CDR reporting in CDX is currently malfunctioning, however. EPA has issued two alerts:...
September 12, 2024
NIOSH Blog Item Highlights NTRC’s Toxicology and Internal Dose Team
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a blog item on September 10, 2024, entitled “NTRC Marks 20 Years of Studying Nanotoxicology: Highlights from the Toxicology and Internal Dose Team” that reviews the Nanotechnology Research Center’s (NTRC) achievements in the field of nanotechnology. The blog item highlights where NTRC started, where it is now, NTRC’s partnerships, and its work modeling workplace exposure to assess toxicity. According to the blog...
September 12, 2024
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Releases Report Examining Impact of Essential Fluorochemistries
In August 2024, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report entitled Essential Chemistries: Providing Benefits Across the U.S. Economy that “examines the dependence of seven critical U.S. sectors, including aerospace manufacturing, data centers, defense equipment and systems, energy transition, health care, mobility, and semiconductors on essential fluorochemistries,” including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Third-party experts in environmental and economic policy engaged by...
September 11, 2024
Registration Opens for NNI Webinar on Nanometrology for Continuous and Automated Manufacturing
The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) is organizing a series of National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) webinars on nanometrology, metrological challenges, and recent advances in three topical areas: food, agriculture, and the environment; nanoscale medical and pharmaceutical products; and nanoparticles in electronics. Registration is open for the fifth webinar in the series, “Nanometrology for Continuous and Automated Manufacturing.” The October 4, 2024, webinar will...
September 11, 2024
Petitions Filed to Add Several Chemicals to List of Taxable Substances; Comments Due November 4, 2024
On September 3, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that petitions have been filed to add the following chemicals to the list of taxable substances: Comments and requests for a public hearing are due November 4, 2024. More information on the Superfund excise tax on chemicals is available in our April 4, 2023, memorandum, “IRS Proposes Regulations Regarding Superfund Tax on Chemicals,” our July 13, 2022, memorandum, “Superfund Tax on Chemicals: What You Need...
September 10, 2024
SEC Announces Settlement with Keurig for Statements Regarding the Recyclability of K-Cup Pods
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on September 10, 2024, that it charged Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (Keurig®) with making inaccurate statements regarding the recyclability of its K-Cup® single-use beverage pods. To settle SEC’s charges, Keurig agreed to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty. SEC’s order states: Beginning in or around 2016, Keurig performed tests of its pods at various recycling facilities, in which Keurig tracked the progress of pods throughout the...
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) program supports the development of new information that will assist federal regulatory agencies in making evidence-based decisions about the effects of genetically engineered organisms on the environment. BRAG is co-administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and jointly funded by NIFA, ARS, and USDA’s Forest Service. NIFA announced on...