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.
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: Update Regarding Strategic Plans, Budget, and PRIA 3 Pollinator Protection Integrated Pest Management Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program PPDC Workgroup and OPP Program...
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...
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.
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...
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 the publication of The Year in Review 2011: Environment, Energy, and Resources Law by the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. The Year in Review provides an annual summary of developments in environmental, energy, and resources law. Lynn L. Bergeson co-authored the Pesticides, Chemical...
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 coordination with the release of the National Bioeconomy Blueprint, the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced commitments supportive of...
On April 27, 2012, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released the Report to the President and Congress on the Fourth Assessment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which is a Congressionally mandated biennial review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). PCAST found that the NNI, which has provided $16 billion to date in investments by 26 federal agencies, "has had a 'catalytic and substantial impact' on the growth of the U.S....
The April 27, 2012, issue of Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) significant new use rules (SNUR) for 119 new chemicals.