All Knowledge & Insights By Date

On October 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of “a new transparent process” intended to allow the public to review and comment on risk assessments and proposed registration decisions for pesticides.  According to EPA, this expanded process will apply to all new pesticide active ingredients and first food uses, first outdoor uses, and first residential uses.  Starting October 1, 2009, for certain registration actions, EPA will add...

TSCA/FIFRA/NTP/EPCRA Ecology Center Creates Consumer Product Website -- On September 16, 2009, the nonprofit environmental organization Ecology Center rolled out a new website designed to provide consumers with test data on common products. The new site, http://www.HealthyStuff.org, provides information on chemicals in common products. The site provides more than 15,000 test results on more than 5,000 common items, including pet products, women’s handbags, back-to-school products,...

Ever read a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) press release and say to yourself or others, “Gee, why is EPA pursuing that matter - there are a lot of other more important enforcement priorities?” Well, now is your chance to help shape EPA’s 2011- 2013 fiscal years enforcement priorities. EPA launched an online discussion forum on August 31 to receive input on future priorities for EPA’s National Enforcement Program.

The September 28, 2009, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes James Aidala regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s need for additional resources to address chemicals.

The September 14/21, 2009, issue of Chemical Week quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding retailer environmental initiatives, which do not provide industry with the usual safeguards provided by regulatory initiatives.

On September 23, 2009, 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...

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...

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...

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...

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).

The London School of Economics (LSE), Chatham House, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars held a conference on September 10-11, 2009, on “Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Securing the Promise of Nanotechnologies,” in London. LSE, Chatham House, ELI, and PEN are participating in an international collaborative project, Regulating Nanotechnologies in the EU and U.S.,...

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...

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...

Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published Annex XV dossiers for the identification of 15 chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.  The substances were proposed by European Union member states and the European Commission, and are identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR), or persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT).  ECHA asks that...

TSCA/FIFRA/NTP/EPCRA Reporting Year 2008 Preliminary TRI Data Now Available Through The TRI Website – On August 19, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program announced that EPA has released preliminary TRI data for reporting year 2008. EPA took the “unprecedented step” of releasing the raw data prior to its completing its data analysis. EPA states that it plans to analyze the data and publish the national analysis once it is completed....

This article describes green nanotechnology and discusses the reasons why traditional chemicals-assessment and management approaches may not be adequate in all cases in the near term when applied to nanomaterials. It outlines the reasons why green nanotechnology may serve as an alternative approach to chemicals assessment when applied to nanomaterials and suggests some measures to advance the goals of green nanotechnology.

If the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) had to select a song today that best reflects a typical member’s profile, it would have to be “It’s Not Easy To Be Me”. Challenged commercially by the credit crunch, escalating energy, labor, and raw material costs, squeezed by market pressures spawned by a badly damaged economy, and reeling from legal and regulatory challenges that are mushrooming exponentially, NACD members really do need red capes emblazoned with the...

The growth in green marketing is getting a lot of attention these days, especially from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the federal agency tasked with preventing unfair and deceptive trade practices. Mindful of potential false and misleading advertising, FTC has been revising its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, known as the “Green Guides.”

On August 25, 2009, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a public hearing to receive comments about its agenda and priorities for CPSC during fiscal year (FY) 2011, which begins October 1, 2010, and about its current strategic plan. CPSC invited participation by members of the public, and representatives from the Consumers Union, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN), Thermo Fisher Scientific, National...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to announce that Lynn L. Bergeson will be speaking at the September 10-11, 2009, international conference on “Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Securing the Promise of Nanotechnologies,” in London. The London School of Economics, Chatham House, the Environmental Law Institute, and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars have spent the past year examining issues of...