The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 31, 2024, a 30-day public comment period on candidates currently under consideration for membership on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). This public comment period follows a November 2023 call for nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the SACC. EPA notes that there are currently 18 SACC members, with eight membership terms that will soon...
February 9, 2024
EPA Will Hold Webinar on February 20, 2024, on Five Chemicals Undergoing TSCA Prioritization
On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will hold a webinar on February 20, 2024, at 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EST) on the five chemicals currently undergoing prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that the webinar is open to all, “but EPA is particularly interested in learning more about how these chemicals are used and how people could potentially be exposed at different points in...
February 7, 2024
EPA Extends Review Period for CBI Claims for the Identity of Chemicals on the TSCA Inventory
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 24, 2024, that it is extending the review period for confidential business information (CBI) claims for specific identity of all active chemical substances listed on the confidential portion of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory submitted to EPA under TSCA. 89 Fed. Reg. 4605. EPA states that it “has determined that an extension of the statutory review period for the review of CBI claims under...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 30, 2024, the publication of a draft testing method (EPA Method 1634) that will enable government agencies, Tribes, and other groups to determine where and when 6PPD-quinone is present in local stormwater and surface waters. As reported in our November 3, 2023, blog item, on November 2, 2023, EPA announced that it granted a petition filed under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 31, 2024, that it has begun accepting applications for the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards. EPA states that the awards will recognize the leadership contributions of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders showing achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, promotion, sale, and use of Safer Choice- or Design for the Environment (DfE)-certified products that further outstanding or innovative source reduction....
January 22, 2024
Senate Committee Will Hold Hearing on January 24, 2024, on Oversight of Implementation of the TSCA Amendments
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is scheduled to hold a hearing on January 24, 2024, on “Oversight of Toxic Substances Control Act Amendments Implementation.” The only scheduled witness is Michal Freedhoff, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). The Committee held a similar hearing on June 22, 2022, the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the Frank R. Lautenberg...
January 19, 2024
Multistate Coalition Supports EPA’s Proposed Revisions to the Safer Choice Standard
As reported in our December 5, 2023, memorandum, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed updates to the Safer Choice Standard on November 14, 2023, that include a name change to the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) Standard (Standard), an update to the packaging criteria, the addition of a Safer Choice certification for cleaning service providers, a provision allowing for preterm partnership termination under exceptional circumstances, and the addition of several...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 9, 2024, the automatic addition of seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). For TRI Reporting Year 2024 (reporting forms due by July 1, 2025), reporting is required for these seven additional PFAS, bringing the total PFAS subject to TRI reporting to 196. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a...
On January 4, 2024, the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) submitted a petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) seeking a rulemaking to eliminate the current allowances for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in consumer products. WDOE states that its research found that when PCBs are found in consumer products, “they are byproducts known to be associated with pigments, paints, or inks used in the manufacturing...
January 12, 2024
Minnesota Requests Comments on Planned Rules for MPCA’s Determination of Currently Unavoidable Uses of PFAS in Products
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has published a request for comments (RFC) on planned new rules governing currently unavoidable use (CUU) determinations for products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to the RFC, the main purpose of the rulemaking is to establish criteria and processes through which MPCA will make decisions on what uses of intentionally added PFAS will qualify as CUUs in products sold, offered for sale, or distributed in Minnesota. Any...