May 22, 2012

California Issues Revised Informal Draft Safer Consumer Products Regulations

At the request of California Governor Jerry Brown (D), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) withdrew its October 31, 2011, informal draft Safer Consumer Products regulations, as well as a revised formal draft scheduled for release in April. Brown reportedly had concerns regarding the scope of the regulations, the treatment of confidential business information, and duplication of existing federal and state regulations. Brown asked DTSC to issue new informal draft...
May 16, 2012

Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health Considers PEL Recommendations

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) met on May 3, 2012, during which it discussed revised recommendations on permissible exposure limits (PEL) from FACOSH’s Emerging Issues Subcommittee. FACOSH is authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act and Executive Order (EO) 11,612, as amended, “to advise the Secretary [of Labor] on all matters relating to the occupational safety and health of federal employees,” including providing advice on...
May 15, 2012

Lynn L. Bergeson, “White House Eyes Biobased Products,” Chemical Processing, May 2012.

On April 26, 2012, the Obama Administration released its National Bioeconomy Blueprint, which is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to harnessing innovations in biological research to address national challenges in health, food, energy and the environment. In a related development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed on May 1, 2012, amendments to 7 C.F.R. Part 3201, Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement....
May 15, 2012

Lynn L. Bergeson, “EO Increases Procurement of Biobased Products,” Pollution Engineering, May 2012.

The BioPreferred Program was established by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. It is intended to increase federal procurement of biobased products, promote rural economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. The USDA manages the program....
May 14, 2012

Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee Convenes Semi-Annual Meeting

On May 3-4, 2012, the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) convened its semiannual meeting in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offices in Arlington, Virginia. This memorandum summarizes the presentations and topics discussed during the meeting, which were organized into 12 sessions: Copies of most slides and handouts from the meeting are available on the PPDC website. Session I. Update Regarding Strategic Plans, Budget, and PRIA 3 Steve Bradbury, Director, Office of...
May 12, 2012

Lisa R. Burchi, Charles M. Auer, Kathleen M. Roberts, and Lynn L. Bergeson, “Are TSCA Section 8(b)(2) Statutory Mixture Categories Subject to Reporting Under the Chemical Data Reporting Rule?,” Bloomberg BNA Toxics Law Reporter, April 12, 2012.

Based on written communications from the EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, questions have been raised as to the agency’s interpretation of the six chemical categories created under the Toxic Substances Control Act’s Section 8(b)(2) authority. Given the statements from EPA over the past several years and recognizing that reporting under the TSCA Chemical Data Reporting rule commenced Feb. 1 (and runs through June 30, 2012), a critically important question is whether chemical...
May 9, 2012

Acta to Participate in Webinar on Chemical Regulation in China

China Chemical Regulation Webinar, May 31, 2012. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s consulting affiliate, The Acta Group, is participating in a webinar on chemical regulation in China with its joint venture partner Acta-PLS China. Leslie S. MacDougall, Andy Burgess, and Dr. Ya-Juin Chou, Novartis Pharma AG, will address the key elements of chemical control legislation in China. Registration is available online....
May 4, 2012

Lynn L. Bergeson Included on “Super Lawyers” List

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and its consulting affiliates, B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) and The Acta Group (Acta), are pleased to announce that the 2012 edition of Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Service, includes Lynn L. Bergeson on its list of top lawyers in environmental law. To compile the list, Super Lawyers asked lawyers in Washington, D.C., to name the top attorneys. Super Lawyers also performed its own research to find outstanding...