What to Expect When You’re Electing(a New President) WEBINAR January 28, 20211:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST As a new Administration arrives in Washington, D.C., few things are certain except that 2021 is sure to be an eventful year, especially as the Democrats gain a majority in the House and what appears to be narrow control of the Senate. While underlying partisan jockeying and prospects for bipartisan cooperation will affect greatly what may happen in the...
January 7, 2021
What Happened with the Presidential Election Last Year? — A Conversation with Howard Gutman
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on December 30, 2020, the final risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos. Of the six use categories evaluated (chlor-alkali diaphragms, sheet gaskets, other gaskets, oilfield brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings, and other vehicle friction products), EPA states that it found that there is unreasonable risk to workers, occupational non-users (ONU), consumers, and/or bystanders within each of the six...
January 1, 2021
WEBINAR—What To Expect When You’re Electing (a New President), January 28, 2021, 1:00 p.m. EST
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to present “What To Expect When You’re Electing (a New President),” a webinar focusing on the incoming Biden Administration, including what policies and initiatives can be expected in the next four years and how any likely regulatory directions may affect our clients. Registration is now open....
December 30, 2020
EPA Intends Proposed Rule to Increase Flexibility and Reduce Burdens under TSCA Fees Program
On December 21, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule that would amend the 2018 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule. According to EPA, the proposed rule “reflects real-world situations, narrows the broad scope of current requirements, significantly reduces the burden on American businesses, and increases the flexibility for surrounding TSCA fees requirements.” Under TSCA, EPA collects fees from chemical manufacturers and...
On December 23, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final risk evaluation for N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Of the 37 conditions of use that EPA reviewed, EPA found that 26 present unreasonable risks to workers and consumers. These uses include an unreasonable risk to workers when domestically manufacturing or importing NMP, processing NMP for a variety of uses, and when used in a variety of industrial and commercial conditions of use. These uses also include...
December 23, 2020
Comments by Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Featured in Bloomberg Environment Article “Fuel-Chemicals Advisory Seen as ‘Unwanted’ EPA Parting Gift”
On December 23, 2020, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, B&C, were featured by Bloomberg Environment regarding a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance advisory describing how the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) applies to certain petroleum-based chemicals, along with renewable substitutes made from crops, fats, and waste oil. [T]he EPA’s...
December 23, 2020
Lynn L. Bergeson and Lara A. Hall, “M&A activity in the analytical services sector: points to consider,” Financier Worldwide, January 2021.
There has been remarkable consolidation in the analytical services sector in the US and elsewhere globally over the past few years. Make no mistake; the need for analytical and related testing services is growing significantly. Because of the legal and regulatory frameworks that demand such services, however, there is considerable need for attendant technical expertise to staff these laboratories, and the need for specialised expertise is also growing exponentially. This article summarises...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on December 22, 2020, final rules under Section 6(h) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for five persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals — decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE); phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)); 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP); hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD); and pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP). TSCA required EPA to take expedited action on...
Having created an impressive legacy of regulatory and policy success for biobased and renewable chemicals and chemical products, the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) will sunset at the end of 2020. BRAG was formed in 2013 to give biobased chemical stakeholders the expertise and collective voice necessary to educate legislative and administrative decision-makers during the negotiations occurring at that time regarding reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act...