September 24, 2009

PEN Holds Meeting on Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation

Yesterday the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Project on Emerging Technologies (PEN) hosted a meeting on “Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Securing the Promise of Nanotechnologies.” The program is part of a collaborative research project involving experts from the London School of Economics (LSE), Chatham House, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and PEN. The project is funded by a grant from the European Commission to support pilot projects on “Transatlantic...
September 22, 2009

EPA Signs Final Rule Requiring Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson signed a final rule that would require reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all sectors of the economy.  The prepublication version of the final rule states that it applies to fossil fuel suppliers and industrial gas suppliers, direct GHG emitters, and manufacturers of heavy-duty and off-road vehicles and engines.  The rule does not require control of GHG, “rather it...
September 21, 2009

EPA Issues Direct Final SNURs for 12 Substances

On September 18, 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Federal Register notice promulgating direct final significant new use rules (SNUR) for 12 chemical substances under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).1 For two of the 12 substances, EPA issued final SNURs that set forth the same exposure controls that were negotiated with the initial premanufacture notice (PMN) submitter through “risk-based” TSCA Section 5(e)...
September 17, 2009

EPA Announces SAP Meeting Concerning Nanosilver

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a September 16, 2009, Federal Register notice that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) will meet November 3-6, 2009, “to consider and review a set of scientific issues related to the assessment of hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products.” Nominations of candidates to serve as ad hoc SAP members for this meeting are...
September 16, 2009

ECHA Press Releases Concerning Good Practice and Clarification to Avoid Unnecessary Animal Tests

Yesterday the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued two press releases, one announcing that over 500 companies met to share best practice, and another regarding a clarification to avoid unnecessary animal tests.  This memorandum briefly summarizes the press releases, which are available online, and here. The European Commission and ECHA organized a meeting for lead registrants and candidate lead registrants to share their experience on taking the lead in developing joint...
September 16, 2009

Former EPA Toxics Head Joins Washington Law, Consulting Firm

The September 15, 2009, issue of Risk Policy Report announces that Charles Auer, former Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), has affiliated with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and its consulting affiliates, The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta) and The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU)....
September 9, 2009

FORMER EPA OFFICIAL CHARLES M. AUER TO AFFILIATE WITH BERGESON & CAMPBELL, P.C., THE ACTA GROUP, L.L.C., AND THE ACTA GROUP EU, LTD

Mr. Auer Brings Experience and Depth to Chemical and Related Environmental Regulatory and Policy IssuesCharles M. Auer, former Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS), and currently President of Charles Auer & Associates, LLC, has affiliated with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and its consulting affiliates, The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta) and The Acta...
September 4, 2009

HSE Proposes Changes to Biocidal Product Regulations

On September 1, 2009, the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced proposed revisions to the Biocidal Product Regulations 2001, which implement the European Union’s Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC concerning the harmonization of the European market for biocidal products.  The revisions would keep biocides on the market after May 14, 2010; update references in the 2001 regulations; and adjust the 2001 regulations.  According to HSE, the proposed revisions do...