Blogs

The Particles Platform, an informal alliance of European Union (EU) industry associations representing manufacturers of materials in the form of particles, including poorly soluble low toxicity particles (PSLT), will hold a workshop on October 2, 2025. The workshop intends to advance regulatory science on particles through new evidence on inhalation toxicity. It will explore the regulatory landscape for particles and provide attendees an opportunity to: Access the latest research on particle...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 18, 2025, that it will prioritize the review of submissions for new chemicals that are intended for use in data center projects or in the manufacturing of covered components, in each case, which pertain to a data center project that is a qualifying project, as defined by Executive Order (EO) 14318, “Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure.” EPA states that new chemical manufacturers may also seek to...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 17, 2025, its next steps regarding regulatory efforts to address cleanup of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). On May 8, 2024, EPA designated PFOA, PFOS, and their salts and structural isomers as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Under the rule, entities are required to report immediately releases of PFOA and PFOS...

In recent weeks, the Trump Administration has taken a series of actions to curtail federal support for offshore wind development. The most visible step was the U.S. Department of Transportation’s cancellation of roughly $679 million in funding for 12 offshore wind projects across 11 states. In addition, the Administration halted construction of the nearly complete $4 billion Revolution Wind project serving Rhode Island and Connecticut, citing national security concerns. An earlier executive...

As reported in our April 11, 2025, memorandum, on April 8, 2025, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed the Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Protection Act (HB 212), which will phase out intentionally added PFAS in certain consumer products before banning intentionally added PFAS in most products on January 1, 2032. The Act also requires manufacturers to report information about intentionally added PFAS by January 1, 2027. The Act states that the New Mexico...

On September 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy (MAHA Strategy) issued by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. This Strategy was required to be submitted to the President by August 12, 2025, based on the findings of the Commission in its Making Our Children Healthy Again report (MAHA Assessment), which was released on May 22, 2025, and is discussed in our blog. In its press release...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 10, 2025, that it is seeking nominations of scientific and technical experts to be considered as ad hoc reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with the peer review of the draft risk evaluation of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that these nominations will help it select approximately seven to eight ad hoc reviewers to assist SACC with...

Under the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act) amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), most confidential business information (CBI) claims will expire after ten years unless reasserted and substantiated. This means that a CBI claim made in 2016 will expire in 2026 unless the claim is reasserted and resubstantiated before the end of the ten-year period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued in June 2023 a final rule with...

The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment is developing a proof of concept to conduct chemical alternatives assessments (AA) in collaboration with industry.  As a first step, DOD will conduct a pilot project to assess alternatives for a chemical of emerging concern to DOD and industry. According to DOD, a consortium of universities will assist DOD in the AA. To help with the chemical selection for the pilot...

As reported in our August 5, 2025, blog item, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on August 1, 2025, an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on USDA’s reorganization plan, as outlined in the July 24, 2025, memorandum issued by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. According to the memorandum, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) centers “will remain at current locations as they are located in USDA hub locations.” The memorandum does...