April 21, 2011

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., “House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on NNI Oversight,” Nanotechnology Industries Association Newsletter, April 21, 2011.

On April 14, 2011, the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled 'Nanotechnology: Oversight of the National Nanotechnology Initiative and Priorities for the Future.' According to the hearing charter, the purpose of the hearing was to examine the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and address the Nation's research and development priorities for the future.
April 20, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson Will Moderate Panel on International and State Regulatory Programs and Strategies for Addressing Nanoscale Materials

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C), The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta), and The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) are pleased to announce that on May 19, 2011, Lynn L. Bergeson will moderate a panel discussing key nanotechnology-related international and state regulatory programs during a "quick teleconference" program sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources entitled Nano Governance: The Current State of Federal, State, and International...
April 18, 2011

Lautenberg Reintroduces TSCA Reform Legislation

On April 14, 2011, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, which is intended to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require chemical companies to demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate safety based on the best available science. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Lautenberg previously introduced...
April 14, 2011

EPA Announces Chemical Action Plans for MDI, TDI, and Related Diisocyanate Compounds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on April 13, 2011, chemical action plans for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and related compounds. According to EPA, Americans may be exposed to these chemicals when they are used in certain applications, such as spray foam insulation, sealing concrete, or finishing floors. EPA states that diisocyanates are used to make polyurethane polymers. Most polyurethane products, such as foam mattresses or bowling...
April 13, 2011

ECHA Updates REACH-IT to Allow Submission of Notifications for Substances in Articles

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on April 13, 2011, that it has updated REACH-IT to allow the submission of notifications for substances in articles. Beginning June 1, 2011, companies must notify to ECHA substances present in articles they produce or import that were included on the substances of very high concern (SVHC) Candidate List before December 1, 2010, if both of the following conditions are met: The SVHC is present in those articles at a volume of >1 metric ton per...
April 11, 2011

Bergeson and Campbell, P.C., “NIOSH Requests Comment and Information to Update its Nanotechnology Strategic Plan,” Nanotechnology Industries Association Newsletter, April 10, 2011.

On the 7th March 2011, the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it sought comments and information on the types of hazard identification and risk management research that it should consider in updating the NIOSH 2009 nanotechnology strategic plan. What follows is an explanation of why NIOSH's continuing research is essential, and why stakeholders are urged to help shape the content and direction of the...
April 10, 2011

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., “CropLife America Considers Nanotechnology at 2011 Spring Conference,” Nanotechnology Industries Association Newsletter, April 10, 2011.

At the April 7-8, 2011, CropLife America and RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) Spring Conference in Washington, D.C., the future of nanotechnology and its applications in the agricultural sector was the subject of a panel discussion.