As we are poised to witness the reauthorization of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) — the first revision of our domestic chemical management law in 40 years — stakeholders will need immediately to understand what the “new TSCA” means for their industrial operations and strategically adjust their global operations to the new law. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) convened a summit to examine generally the anticipated changes to TSCA, the process and...
On May 2, 2016, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report published “EPA Expands Regions’ Chemical Management Role,” featuring comments from B&C Managing Partner Lynn L. Bergeson and B&C affiliate Charles Auer. The article discussed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) April 29, 2016 action to manage certain chemicals and related issues more than they traditionally have done. […]“The new regional role is a significant change as the regions did not...
Firm clients and friends with interests in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and other perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are likely aware that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to issue by mid-May or so new guidance on safe drinking water levels for these chemicals. As EPA and a handful of states continue to address elevated levels of lead in drinking water, EPA Administrator McCarthy has made clear in various meetings over the past...
On April 22, 2016, California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a final notice listing styrene as known to the state to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop 65). OEHHA also issued a proposal to adopt a Prop 65 No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) of 27 micrograms per day for styrene. The listing of styrene has been contentious. OEHHA previously attempted to propose...
Registration is now open for the June 6-7, 2016, U.S.-European Union (EU) “Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts” joint workshop. See https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-wZatJVQ3b9LSx9rrJeeEZqFO-8DZVs-80txK-9DBmQ/viewform and http://us-eu.org/2016%20-us-eu-nanoehs-workshop/ The workshop will bring together the U.S.-EU Communities of Research (COR), which serve as a platform for U.S. and EU scientists to share information on nanotechnology environmental, health, and...
As many of our clients and friends know, George W. Wilson, Jr. died last November. George served as Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) chief technology officer for many years. To those of us who knew and worked with George, we loved his passion for life, we relied upon his expertise in information technology, and we appreciated and benefitted from his vision for the seamless integration of business, information technology, and accounting. Many more who did...
April 25, 2016
Lisa R. Burchi Presents “Regulatory Updates and Enforcement Trends,” at the 2016 NADC Western Region Meeting
On April 22, 2016, Lisa R. Burchi, of Counsel with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., presented “Regulatory Updates and Enforcement Trends,” at the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Western Region Meeting. Ms. Burchi’s presentation detailed how the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) sets priorities and enforcement strategies. OECA identifies compliance monitoring and assurance activities for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) New and...
On April 11, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum entitled “Coverage for ZirconizationTM Under 40 CFR Part 433 (Metal Finishing ELG),” which concludes that “wastewater generated by ZirconizationTM or a process that applies a zirconium oxide finish to a metal substrate is subject to the Metal Finishing [Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG)].” Zirconization is the trade name for a process that produces a zirconium oxide...
On April 20, 2016, Jane S. Vergnes, Ph.D., DABT, Senior Toxicologist of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., chaired the “Microbeads: Regulatory & Safety Issues” session and an at the Grocery Manufacturers Association Science Forum. Panelists Jack Lindard, Ph.D., Brooke Tvermoes, Ph.D., and Michael Gruber discussed new federal regulations banning the sale of certain personal care products containing the synthetic polymer particles referred to as microbeads. Dr. Vergnes also moderated an...
On April 22, 2016, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) issued a monograph concluding that cobalt and cobalt compounds that release cobalt ions in vivo are expected to cause human cancer. Specifically, NTP stated that “[t]here is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of cobalt and cobalt compounds that release cobalt ions in vivo (collectively referred to as cobalt) in experimental animals based on increased incidence of malignant and/or a combination of...