On December 17, 2010, the US National Organic Program (NOP) voted to accept the recommendation of the US National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to prohibit engineered nanomaterials from the production, processing, and packaging of certified organic products. The decision was made with little fanfare, but has big implications. ...
March 4, 2011
EPA Requests Extension on NPDES Permit Deadline as Congress Revives Effort to Pass a Legislative Fix
The March 4, 2011, issue of Pesticide & Chemical Policy quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the Obama Administration’s request that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals grant the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an extension to implement a Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting system for pesticides applied to, over, or near U.S. waters....
On May 19, 2011, the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) Pesticides, Chemical Regulation, and Right-to-Know Committee will present a half-day webinar program on nano governance. Nanotechnology Industries Association’s intrepid leader, Dr. Steffi Friedrichs, is scheduled to present at this important program....
March 2, 2011
Timothy J. Vandevort Joins Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s Consortia Management Affiliate, B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C.
Mr. Vandevort Brings Valuable Experience in Consortia Management for the Chemical Business Community and Enhances B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C.’s Growing Practice Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and its consortia management affiliate, B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) are pleased to announce the addition of Timothy J. Vandevort to BCCM’s team. His experience in consortia management will supplement the skill sets of other BCCM professionals and...
After more than three years of discussion, research, review, and debate, the United States Federal Trade Commission (US FTC) released proposed revisions to its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (the “Green Guides”) in late 2010. The Green Guides provide FTC “guidance” on what is and is not appropriate in the ever-fluid area of environmental marketing. They are designed to help product marketers avoid making false and misleading environmental claims that might violate...
On February 15, 2011, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a revised directive that provides enforcement guidance on determining whether employers have complied with OSHA’s personal protective equipment (PPE) standards. The Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Industry, CPL 02-01-050, is the latest word from OSHA on PPE, and an important document for employers and employees alike....
February 24, 2011
Lynn L. Bergeson, “2010 Elections Could Impact EPA Programs,” Chemical Processing, December 2010.
The 2010 Congressional elections will likely significantly impact policy and legislative developments in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of chemicals and pesticides. The decline in the number of elected House Democratic members will make for some significant differences in EPA’s budget, legislative proposals and general operations. Meanwhile, some newly elected senators stridently oppose government expansion and want to rein in federal deficit spending,...
March 1, 2011, is the deadline for owners or operators of facilities covered under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to file annual “Tier II” reporting forms to the appropriate state and local agencies. Under EPCRA Section 312, any facility required under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to maintain material safety data sheets (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals and that stores these chemicals on-site during the...
February 17, 2011
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Workplace Falls Get Fresh Attention,” Chemical Processing, August 2010.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is tackling a major source of industrial injuries — slips, trips and falls on workplace surfaces. On May 24, OSHA proposed significant revisions to Subparts D and I of the general industry standards dealing with walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment (PPE), respectively. This column outlines the reasons why OSHA believes changes are needed to protect workers, and key revisions to these standards....
February 11, 2011
Respondents to House Committee Identify FIFRA and TSCA Regulatory Actions as Impediments to Job Growth
On February 10, 2011, during a hearing on “Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation,” the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a preliminary staff report entitled Assessing Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation. In December 2010, Committee Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent letters to over 150 businesses, industry organizations, and think tanks asking for examples of existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth, as well as...