February 16, 2010

Christopher R. Bryant Joins Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Law Firm and The ACTA Group, L.L.C. and The ACTA Group EU, LTD Consulting Practices

Safety Compliance Issues and Related Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Issues Christopher R. Bryant, previously with the American Chemistry Council, has joined Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and its consulting affiliates, The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta) and The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU). Mr. Bryant has over 20 years of experience in environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance and legislative, regulatory, and policy issues. Mr. Bryant was the Managing Director of the Chemical Products...
February 9, 2010

Advisory Panel’s Advice on Nanosilver Raises Concerns Over Possible EPA Response

In the February 9, 2010, issue of BNA Daily Environment ReportLynn L. Bergeson states that the recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) create regulatory uncertainty, which will discourage companies hoping to enter the antimicrobial market for products containing nanosilver and other nanoscale metals. According to Bergeson, while SAP's recommendations urge EPA to obtain additional information on nanosilver before granting new...
February 8, 2010

EPA SAP Releases Report on Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Pesticide Products

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) has released the minutes of its November 3-5, 2009, meeting regarding evaluation of the hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products. Before summarizing the SAP's primary conclusions and recommendations, we note a few general observations. First, the SAP final recommendations address nanosilver almost entirely, and little or no mention is made of "nanometal pesticide products."...
February 4, 2010

Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing Regarding Current Science on Public Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Today the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a hearing entitled "Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals." Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, criticized the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for failing to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the necessary authority to protect the public from unsafe chemicals. Lautenberg stated that he intends to introduce...
February 3, 2010

Ruth Downes, Kevin Goulden, and Tabitha Harrison Join Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s Affiliate, The ACTA Group EU, Ltd

Each Brings Extensive Experience in International Chemical Regulatory Issues The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) is pleased to announce the addition of Ruth Downes, Kevin Goulden, and Tabitha Harrison to its European Union consulting practice. Their combined extensive knowledge of international chemical and health and safety regulatory programs will supplement the skill sets of other Acta EU professionals. Ms. Downes specializes in Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and...
February 3, 2010

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Disclosure Protection May Narrow,” Chemical Processing, February 2010.

A business' ability to claim information as confidential when submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may soon be at risk, based on several EPA initiatives rolled out over the past year. As Congress gears up for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) legislative reform, stakeholders are preparing for changes in the scope of confidential business information (CBI) protection under TSCA.
February 1, 2010

Lynn L. Bergeson, “EPA Moves Closer to GHG Control,” Pollution Engineering, February 2010.

EPA has put itself on the path toward greenhouse gas regulation, but in Congress, the courts, and the international community, the debate rages on. On Dec. 7, 2009, EPA moved one step closer to imposing the first ever set of enforceable greenhouse gas (GHG) standards on tailpipe emissions from vehicles, and a requirement that large power plants and industrial emitters install best available control technology (BACT) to reduce emissions.
January 28, 2010

EPA Announces Intent to Issue Cancellation Order for Spirotetramat

On January 26, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) announced that it intends to issue a cancellation order for the pesticide spirotetramat pursuant to Section 6(a)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). A comment period is now open on the existing stocks provisions of the planned cancellation order. Comments are due February 8, 2010. EPA states that, on December 23, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the...
January 27, 2010

Final Rule Amends PMN Exemption for Polymers

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final rule amending the polymer exemption rule, which provides an exemption from the premanufacture notification (PMN) requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The amendment excludes from eligibility polymers containing as an integral part of their composition, except as impurities, certain perfluoroalkyl moieties consisting of a CF3- or longer chain length. This exclusion includes polymers that contain any one or...