On March 4, 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of its Current Intelligence Bulletin 69: NIOSH Practices in Occupational Risk Assessment. 85 Fed. Reg. 12786. The Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) describes the process and logic NIOSH uses to conduct risk assessments, including the following steps: Appendix C of the CIB includes sections addressing nanomaterials...
Effective March 15, 2020, Madison Le will join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) as Director of the Chemical Control Division (CCD). Ms. Le will replace Acting Director Lynn Vendinello. Ms. Le is currently Director of the Fuels Compliance Policy Center within the Office of Air and Radiation. In that capacity, Ms. Le manages the implementation of EPA’s national fuels programs, including the Renewable Fuel...
On February 28, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a new web portal that is available to the public to search for EPA guidance documents. The EPA Guidance Portal (Portal) was created under Executive Order 13891, “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents,” where agencies are to develop a central web portal for the public to review active guidance documents and the ability to request for modification or...
On March 2, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule on EPA’s procedures for conducting on-site civil inspections. This final rule applies to on-site inspections conducted by EPA civil inspectors, federal contractors, and Senior Environmental Employment employees conducting inspections on behalf of EPA. This rule is effective March 2, 2020. This rule explains how EPA inspectors should conduct on-site civil administrative inspections...
March 3, 2020
EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Registration Decision for New Nanosilver Product
As reported in our February 13, 2020 blog item, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 12, 2020, that it is seeking public input on a proposal to incorporate a new nanosilver pesticide product into textiles to combat odors, discoloration, and other signs of wear. The proposed registration decision is for NSPW Nanosilver, and the proposed pesticide product, Polyguard-NSPW Master Batch (Polyguard), will be incorporated into textiles to suppress bacteria, algae,...
The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) issues Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS), which reflect the state of technology, occupational safety and health, and occupational hygiene, as well as other verified scientific knowledge relating to activities involving hazardous substances, including their classification and labeling. BAuA has published an English translation of TRGS 527: “Activities with nanomaterials.” TRGS 527 contains...
On February 28, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that, in support of President Trump’s (R) Executive Order to promote transparency, EPA launched a new guidance portal that provides public access to its guidance documents. According to EPA, the new searchable database will make it easier for the regulated community to find and follow agency guidance. On October 9, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order 13891, Promoting the Rule...
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 27, 2020, that it plans to begin its audit of the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Service Fee Fund financial statements for the period from inception, June 22, 2016, to September 30, 2018. According to the Project Notification, the audit objectives are to determine whether: OIG states that the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act...
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A. On February 19, 2020, the University of Oulu, Finland, announced that scientists from its Research Unit of Sustainable Chemistry have developed a new synthetic bioplastic that provides protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In addition to its UV-light blocking capacity, the transparent bioplastic made from a biomass-based copolymer with bisfuran structure, the new bioplastic also has airtightness capabilities three to four times higher than...
February 28, 2020
ASTM International Biotechnology Task Group Seeking Members
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A. The international standards organization, ASTM International, is seeking additional task group members to further develop the current terminology standard in industrial biotechnology (E3072-19). ASTM International develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. Its sub-committee, E62.91 for Terminology in Industrial Biotechnology, is responsible for suggesting new...
February 28, 2020
DOE ORNL Develops Method For Observing Biomaterials’ Nanostructure
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A. On February 25, 2020, DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced that its scientists have developed a novel technique to closely observe the nanostructure of biomaterials without damaging the sample. Using a nonintrusive soft mechanical nanoablation (sMNA) technique can confirm structural features in starch, which is an important carbohydrate in the production of biofuels. ORNL’s chief scientist for systems biology and...
February 28, 2020
DOE EERE To Host Public Workshops On ESGC Across The Country
By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 21, 2020, U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), announced that it will hold a series of workshops to receive input on the approaches and activities for its new initiative, the Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC). Launched in January 2020 by DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette, ESGC was created to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies. With...
February 28, 2020
FDA Upgrades Its Database Of Licensed Biological Products
By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 24, 2020, FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., announced that FDA is upgrading its Purple Book, which is otherwise known as its “Database of FDA-Licensed Biological Products.” According to Dr. Hahn, FDA is working to expand the Purple Book by transitioning from its current list format to a searchable online database for all approved biosimilar products and their reference products. An upgrade planned to be released in multiple phases,...
February 28, 2020
FDA Issues Final Rule Amending The Definition Of “Biological Product”
By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 21, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule to amend its regulation that defines “biological product.” The new definition incorporates changes made by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCI Act) and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (FCA Act). Under the final rule, the statutory term “protein” is interpreted to mean any alpha amino acid polymer with a specific, defined...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register on February 26, 2020, announcing the availability of the draft risk evaluation for trichloroethylene (TCE), “a chemical used as a solvent and an intermediate for refrigerant manufacture in industrial and commercial processes, and with limited consumers uses like as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities.” 85 Fed. Reg. 11079. EPA assessed 54 conditions of use of...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on February 21, 2020, the draft risk evaluation for trichloroethylene (TCE), “a chemical used as a solvent and an intermediate for refrigerant manufacture in industrial and commercial processes, and with limited consumers uses like as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities.” EPA assessed 54 conditions of use of TCE, and the draft risk evaluation includes the following findings: EPA notes that the draft risk...
February 24, 2020
ECHA Urges Companies to Provide More Data on Nanoforms
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a press release on February 24, 2020, stating that it has received a low number of registration dossiers for nanomaterials. ECHA states that it has received only 95 unique submissions for 36 substances covering nanoforms according to the updated Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation requirements. ECHA expected to receive updated registrations for approximately 300 substances, based...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on February 20, 2020, a proposed supplemental significant new use rule (SNUR) issued under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances to make inapplicable the exemption for persons who import a subset of LCPFAC chemical substances as part of surface coatings on articles. Under the proposed supplemental SNUR, this subset of LCPFAC chemical substances...
February 21, 2020
UMass Amherst Unveils A Renewable Device Capable Of Generating Energy
By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 17, 2020, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) announced that one of its laboratories has developed a device using a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air. Electrical engineer Jun Yao and microbiologist Derek Lovley have created what they call “Air-Gen,” which consists of an air-powered generator with electrically conductive protein nanowires produced by the microbe Geobacter. The Air-gen...
February 21, 2020
EPA Pollution Prevention Program Requests Applications
By Lynn L. Bergeson The EPA Pollution Prevention (P2) Grant Program has announced the availability of funds to provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) to businesses to encourage the development and implementation of source reduction practices. EPA states that source reduction practices can help businesses save money by reducing resource use, expenditures, waste, and liability costs, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint and helping to protect...