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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication version of a proposed amendment to the significant new use rule (SNUR) for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical substances (available at 40 C.F.R. § 721.9582) to add seven PFAS chemical substances that have completed the new chemical review process under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), but have not yet commenced production or import, and to designate (for all listed PFAS chemical substances) processing as a...

On August 3, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (together, the Services) announced the availability of proposed revisions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation process as it is conducted within the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Registration Review process. The written proposal is available online....

The August 3, 2012, issue of Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Kathleen Roberts concerning improvements the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made to its electronic filing system....

EPA’s recent proposals to apply its Significant New Use Rules (SNUR) authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to “articles” raises legal and policy issues, and presents challenges to EPA and industry. Here is why....

In July, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released proposed Safer Consumer Products regulations, the newest iteration of the much anticipated regulatory implementation of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative. Below is a summary of the core elements of the proposed regulations — chemicals of concern (COC), priority products (PP), alternative analysis (AA), and regulatory responses....

On July 27, 2012, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released proposed Safer Consumer Products Regulations (Proposed Regulations). The Proposed Regulations, subject to a 45-day comment period, are the newest iteration of the much anticipated regulatory implementation of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative. The Proposed Regulations have been through several iterations, including an “informal draft” that was released in October 2011, and other drafts...

In a largely symbolic vote along party lines, on July 25, 2012, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by a 10-8 vote passed an amended version of Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847). Despite the Committee’s passage of the bill, the legislation faces a headwind of opposition from Senate Republicans and the chemical industry and is unlikely to be passed this year. Republicans criticized the scheduled markup of the...

On July 11, 2012, China’s State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) published Order Number 53, Measures for the Administration of Registration of Hazardous Chemicals, which replaces its 2002 predecessor. Order Number 53 extends the chemical registration requirements to importers and manufacturers/producers. An increase in the number of substances defined as “hazardous chemicals” in China is also expected. The Order will enter into force on August 1, 2012, and the...

The July 27, 2012, issue of Inside EPA quotes Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s, November 2, 2011, memorandum regarding the California Department of Toxic Substance’s (DTSC) informal draft Safer Consumer Products Regulations....

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health held a joint hearing yesterday entitled “Oversight of EPA Authorities and Actions to Control Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.” The hearing examined current initiatives related to flame retardant chemicals as a means of exploring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority over chemical safety under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). During the...