The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 18, 2022, that it is accepting nominations for the 2023 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment. The awards again include a category to recognize technology that reduces or eliminates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. EPA will hold a webinar on September 28, 2022, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m....
August 17, 2022
EPA Updates Safer Chemical Ingredients List, Adding 22 Chemicals and Changing the Status of One Chem
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 11, 2022, that it updated the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL), “a living list of chemicals by functional-use class that EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined meet the Safer Choice Standard.” EPA added 22 chemicals to the SCIL. EPA states that to expand the number of chemicals and functional-use categories on the SCIL, it encourages...
August 16, 2022
NASEM Recommends That EPA Conduct Ecological Risk Assessment of UV Filters Found in Sunscreen, Including Titanium Oxide and Zinc Oxide
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released on August 9, 2022, a report entitled Review of Fate, Exposure, and Effects of Sunscreens in Aquatic Environments and Implications for Sunscreen Usage and Human Health. NASEM was tasked by Congress and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to undertake a consensus study of the potential risk of ultraviolet (UV) filters on already threatened aquatic environments and the potential...
August 16, 2022
OMB Completes Review of Proposed Rule to Designate PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
review of a proposed rule that would designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Such designations would require facilities to report on PFOA and PFOS releases that meet or exceed the reportable quantity. Publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register will begin a public comment period. As reported in our October 19,...
August 12, 2022
BETO Achieves Major Biofuel Technology and Production Milestone
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced on July 26, 2022, that it “has achieved a significant milestone in decreasing the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of drop-in biofuels, which are fuels made from biomass and other waste carbon sources, and that are compatible with existing petroleum fuel infrastructure and conventional vehicles.” BETO partnered with T2C-Energy, LLC (T2C) to...
August 11, 2022
EPA Updates Safer Chemical Ingredients List, Adding 22 Chemicals and Changing the Status of One Chemical
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 11, 2022, that it updated the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL), “a living list of chemicals by functional-use class that EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined meet the Safer Choice Standard.” EPA added 22 chemicals to the SCIL. EPA states that to expand the number of chemicals and functional-use categories on the SCIL, it encourages manufacturers to submit their safer chemicals for review...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a supplemental proposed rule that would add the diisononyl phthalate (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). 87 Fed. Reg. 48128. EPA previously issued a proposed rule on September 5, 2000, in response to a petition filed under EPCRA, to add a DINP category to the list of...
August 10, 2022
NASEM Report on the Importance of Chemical Research to the U.S. Economy Addresses Sustainability for
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) announced on July 21, 2022, publication of a new report entitled The Importance of Chemical Research to the U.S. Economy. The National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the American Chemical Society (ACS) asked NASEM to convene a committee to consider strategies to sustain and enhance...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a webinar on August 17, 2022, on the “EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap: Research Tools and Resources.” EPA states that “[a] growing body of scientific evidence suggests that exposure at certain levels to specific [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)] can adversely impact human health and other living things.” The webinar will provide a brief overview of EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and ongoing efforts by EPA’s...
August 8, 2022
White House OSTP Releases Plan to Advance Research on Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released on August 5, 2022, a new report on the National Emerging Contaminants Research Initiative (NECRI). The report outlines a federal strategy to address critical research gaps related to detecting and assessing emerging contaminants in drinking water, as well as identifying and mitigating the adverse health effects those contaminants cause. The report also outlines strategic steps needed to more effectively...