On June 19, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the comment period on its June 11, 2020, proposed rulemaking “Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process.” 85 Fed. Reg. 37057. Comments are due August 3, 2020. EPA held a virtual public hearing on the proposed rulemaking on July 1, 2020, to provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning EPA's proposed...
On June 18, 2020, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act (H.R. 2). The Committee’s June18, 2020, press release states that the INVEST in America Act marks a significant departure from previous surface transportation reauthorization bills by addressing the maintenance needs and building smarter, safer infrastructure while putting the United States on a path...
The Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is four years old. While to some 22 June 2016 seems like yesterday, the past four years have been transformational. The US EPA has worked hard, been timely and done well in thoughtfully implementing the changes. Anniversaries tend to inspire reflection on the past, and this year was no exception. The Environmental Law Institute, Bergeson & Campbell and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public...
July 10, 2020
Industry Associations Petition EPA to Develop Risk Management Procedural Rule under TSCA Section 6
On June 3, 2020, the American Coatings Association (ACA), National Association of Manufacturers, Toy Association, National Association of Home Builders, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a petition under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop a risk management procedural rule under TSCA Section 6. According to the petition, such a rule is necessary to implement the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety...
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to release this episode of the All Things Chemical™ podcast, which will be of special interest to members of the agricultural community. During “Checking up on EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs — A Conversation with Jim Aidala,” Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, B&C, sat down with James V. Aidala, B&C’s Senior Government Affairs Consultant, to catch up on what the U.S. Environmental Protection...
On June 24, 2020, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), The Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health presented “TSCA Reform -- Four Years Later.” A full recording of the seminar, including a keynote address by Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and comments by the Hon. John Shimkus U.S. Representative,...
July 2, 2020
DOE Announces RFI On Improving Battery Critical Materials Supply Chains and Other Biobased Developments
Federal DOE Announces RFI On Improving Battery Critical Materials Supply Chains On June 29, 2020, the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) published a request for information (RFI) on challenges and opportunities in the up- and mid-stream critical materials battery supply chains. As demand for critical materials such as lithium and cobalt for the manufacturing of batteries continues to grow, DOE is seeking ways to reduce...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum on June 29, 2020, announcing an “addendum on termination” to its March 26, 2020, COVID-19 temporary enforcement policy. The memorandum notes that as states and businesses begin to re-open, there will be a period of adjustment as regulated entities plan how to comply with environmental legal obligations and with public health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies...
June 25, 2020
Final Risk Evaluation for Methylene Chloride Is First Completed under Lautenberg Act Amendments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice on June 24, 2020, announcing the availability of the final Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation for methylene chloride. 85 Fed. Reg. 37942. This is the first risk evaluation that EPA has completed under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act) amendments to TSCA. After evaluating 53 conditions of use of methylene chloride, EPA determined that...