It is not too late to register for Bioenergy 2015, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the Clean Energy Research and Education Foundation (CEREF), and taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on June 23–24, 2015. Speakers include Jonathan Male, Director, BETO; Franklin (Lynn) Orr, Under Secretary for Science and Energy, DOE; Robert M. Simon, Principal Advisor to the Director for Energy,...
Category: General
On June 10, 2015, and June 15, 2015, EPA held a webinar entitled "eDisclosure: EPA's Plan to Modernize the Implementation of the Audit Policy and the Small Business Compliance Policy." During the webinar, EPA set forth its plans to release in the fall 2015 a centralized online portal called eDisclosure to allow companies to submit self-disclosures electronically under EPA's Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations (Audit Policy) and...
June 18, 2015
White House OSTP Calls for “Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenges for the Next Decade”
On June 17, 2015, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published a request for information (RFI) seeking suggestions for “Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenges for the Next Decade.” The Federal Register notice states: “A Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenge should be an ambitious but achievable goal that harnesses nanoscience, nanotechnology, and innovation to solve important national or global problems and has the potential to capture the public’s...
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a June 9, 2015, press release reminding registrants to consider the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) dissemination of hazard information on the following nanomaterials, and to update their dossiers accordingly: Cerium oxide; Dendrimers; Fullerenes (C60); Gold nanoparticles; Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Nanoclays; Silicon dioxide; Silver nanoparticles; Single-walled carbon nanotubes; Titanium dioxide...
June 16, 2015
European Court of Justice Dismisses Case Regarding Confidential Treatment of Information Submitted to EFSA
On June 3, 2015, the General Court of the European Court of Justice issued a ruling in Luxembourg Pamol (Cyprus) Ltd. and Luxembourg Industries Ltd. (Luxembourg) vs. European Commission regarding the publication of information by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its peer reviewed draft assessment report of potassium phosphonate that Luxembourg claimed as confidential. The case was brought by Luxembourg after EFSA rejected Luxembourg’s claim that certain information...
June 16, 2015
Lynn L. Bergeson, “OSHA Clarifies GHS Compliance Efforts,” Chemical Processing, June 16, 2015.
On May 29, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the “Interim Enforcement Guidance for Hazard Communication 2012 (HCS 2012) June 1, 2015 Effective Date” (Interim Guidance). This supplements the February 9, 2015, “Enforcement Guidance for the Hazard Communication Standard’s (HCS) June 1, 2015 Effective Date” (Enforcement Guidance). The Interim Guidance clarifies specific points to manufacturers, importers, and distributors...
ChemCon Asia 2015 was an international conference on chemical control legislation and trade aspects. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and the Acta Group were exhibitors.
June 14, 2015
18th Annual Nanotech Advanced Materials & Applications, June 14 – 17, 2015, Washington, District of Columbia
The world’s largest nanotechnology event, Nanotech 2015, co-located with TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo, delivered application-focused research from the top international academic, government, and private industry labs to identify new technology trends, development tools, product opportunities, R&D collaborations, and commercialization partners. Lynn L. Bergeson presented “Recent Developments in Global EHS Nano Governance...
On June 10, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed significant new use rules (SNUR) for 30 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN), including functionalized carbon nanotubes (generic) (PMN Number P-13-793). On October 27, 2014, EPA promulgated a SNUR for this PMN substance through a direct final rule. EPA withdrew the SNUR on December 23, 2014, after receiving notice of intent to submit adverse comments. According to the June 10,...
On June 4, 2015, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register for a Public Hearing on the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. As part of the hearing, EPA will consider amendments to the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biodiesel, and advanced biofuels that are added to fuel produced in the U.S. or imported for 2014, 2015, and 2016, and will consider amendments to the proposed biodiesel volume for 2017. The hearing will be held on...
June 11, 2015
EPA Promulgates SNUR for Graphene Nanoplatelets
On June 5, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNUR) for 22 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN), including graphene nanoplatelets having a predominant thickness of 1-10 layers with lateral dimension predominantly less than 2 microns (PMN Number P-14-763). This substance is subject to a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5(e) consent order that includes the following...
The June 11, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report article “Scientists Sought for New Committee To Advise EPA Office on Risk, Other Issues,” included quotes from Lynn L. Bergeson about the addition of an advisory committee for Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT). “The new advisory committee offers a timely and excellent opportunity to provide input on critically important topics at the core of OPPT's mission,” Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of...
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued a June 9, 2015, press release entitled "OECD chemical studies show way forward for nanomaterial safety."
June 5, 2015
Lynn L. Bergeson, “EPA Promulgates SNUR for Graphene Nanoplatelets,” Nanotechnology Now, June 5, 2015.
On June 5, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNUR) for 22 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN), including graphene nanoplatelets having a predominant thickness of 1-10 layers with lateral dimension predominantly less than 2 microns (PMN Number P-14-763).
The Acta Group (Acta®) is pleased to offer to ChemCon Asia 2015 attendees a complimentary 30-minute private session with Acta professionals and Acta's South Korean-based affiliate, SHES Chemical Consulting (SHES), to answer questions relating to K-REACH, European Union REACH, TSCA, or other Asian chemical notification/regulation programs, as requested. This service is offered free of charge, provides an excellent opportunity to maximize your attendance at ChemCon, and is designed to...
June 1, 2015
Proposed Harmonized Classification and Labeling Would Apply to Nanosized Titanium Dioxide
On May 31, 2016, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) began a public consultation on a harmonized classification and labeling (CLH) proposal submitted by France for titanium dioxide. The proposed entry in Annex VI of the Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation is “Carc. 1B, H350i.” The CLH report states: “Based on available evidence and information in the registration dossier (e.g. mechanism of carcinogenicity, characterization of the particles), the proposed...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Denies Petition To Ban Triclosan: On May 13, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition submitted in January 2010 by Food & Water Watch and Beyond Pesticides seeking to ban triclosan, an antibacterial compound. According to EPA, "the information available at this time does not support granting the majority of the relief requested. The agency notes, however, that it is currently engaged across various programs in assessing the risks...
Stewardship 2015 is the only national conference dedicated to educating and equipping product stewards, industrial hygienists, environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals, and others involved in the day-to-day work of product stewardship. Lynn L. Bergeson presented "Legal and Stewardship Issues Associated with EPDs and HPDs" on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.
May 30, 2015
American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce) 2015, May 30 – June 4, 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah
Nearly 5,000 colleagues at AIHce 2015, the must-attend event for industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. Lynn L. Bergeson participated in the roundtable “Progress and Key Considerations for Nanotechnology Development Stewardship”, June 1.
May 29, 2015
EPA Announces 2014, 2015, and 2016 RFS Volumes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the volume requirements and associated percentage standards that would apply under the RFS program in calendar years 2014, 2015, and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. We will include a complete analysis of the EPA proposal and its impact in the June 4, 2015, Biobased and Renewable Products Update.