Category: General

March 13, 2015

EPA Unveils Safer Choice Label

Last week, EPA unveiled the new Safer Choice label. According to the EPA website, a product with the Safer Choice label means that EPA scientists have reviewed every ingredient in that product to ensure they meet the rigorous health and environmental criteria included in the Safer Choice Standard. Companies wishing to learn how to qualify for the Safer Choice label should visit EPA's Resources for Safer Choice Product Manufacturers.  
March 13, 2015

GOP Presidential Hopefuls Discuss RFS At 2015 Iowa Ag Summit

On March 7, 2015, the 2015 Iowa Ag Summit brought together several Republican Presidential hopefuls to discuss agricultural issues, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), in the United States. The potential candidates present at the summit included former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), Governor Scott Walker (R-WI), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), former Governor George Pataki (R-NY), former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), and former...
March 12, 2015

WEBINAR — Border Security: EPA’s Increased FIFRA Import Enforcement Initiative, March 12, 2015, 2:00 p.m. (EDT)

This webinar has occurred.  For copies of presentation materials contact chad.howlin@lawbc.com.   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2014 revisions to its Notice of Arrival (NOA) form (EPA Form 3540-1), coupled with EPA's increasing scrutiny of pesticide imports, indicate that this is an issue of growing interest to EPA and could result in a rise of enforcement cases or, at a minimum, business disruption for shipments that are refused entry. Bergeson &...
March 11, 2015

Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, March 11-13, 2015, Washington, D.C.

ABLC2015 was the gathering point for the top leaders in the Advanced Bioeconomy — bringing together the entire spectrum of advanced Fuels, Chemicals & Materials CEOs and senior executives, financiers, policymakers, and industry suppliers. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) were proud sponsors. Kathleen M. Roberts participated on the Policy Outlook panel, and Richard E. Engler presented a session on “Class...
March 10, 2015

EU Passes Controversial Directive Concerning GMOs

On March 2, 2015, European Union (EU) Ministers approved a Directive previously approved by the European Parliament with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMO). EU Directive 2010/0208, entitled Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory, will allow individual Member States to determine whether...
March 10, 2015

Implementing PRIA 3 in FY 2014

On March 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 11th Annual Report on EPA’s implementation of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act (PRIA 3) that is required under Section 33(k) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This annual report details changes in processes, practices, and policies for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 that ran from October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014. The report is divided into different...
March 9, 2015

SUN-SNO-GUIDENANO Sustainable Nanotechnology Conference 2015, March 9 – 11, 2015, Venice, Italy

Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO), a U.S. based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable nanotechnology partnered with two European Commission centers, the Sustainable Nanotechnologies Project (SUN), and GUIDEnano, and presented the SUN-SNO-GUIDENANO Sustainable Nanotechnology Conference 2015 for academia, industry, government, and other industry stakeholders to address critical aspects of sustainable nanotechnology such as life cycle...
March 6, 2015

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Business Wire, "Modular Genetics Congratulates Clinton Ideas Matter Essay Contest 2nd Place Winner" ? Houston Chronicle, "Agriculture Secretary Champions the Biofuels Industry" ? UCR Today, "Novel Pretreatment Could Cut Biofuel Costs by 30 Percent or More" ? Pat Toomey, "Toomey, Feinstein Introduce Bill To Repeal Ethanol Mandate" ? Climate Change And Emissions Management Corporation, "Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation Funds Seven Projects Valued at $3.2 Million to Address GHG...
March 6, 2015

Australian Renewable Energy Agency Announces Funding For Biofuel Production

On February 24, 2015, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $5.2 million in funding that would go to the design and construction of a pilot scale biofuel production facility in Perth. The company in charge of creating the facility is Renergi, a startup established in 2012 with the goal of commercializing a suite of energy technologies that were developed in Curtin University's Fuels and Energy Technology Institute. The production facility will contain a 100 kg per hour biomass...
March 6, 2015

DOE Announces Third Round Of START Program

On February 25, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the third round of Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) Renewable Energy Project Development Assistance that provides tribal governments and entities with support to produce clean and renewable energy. The START program was launched in December 2011 and has helped 21 tribal communities advance solar, wind, biofuels, and energy efficiency projects. The program is open to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native regional...