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On June 18, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the most historic rule in its history: the Clean Power Plan. The proposal would, for the first time, impose regulatory limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants and is likely to have significant impacts throughout the economy. Pollution Engineering, a magazine, website, and news and information service for senior executives and engineers involved in their company's pollution control, convened a panel of experts...

Fifteen European industry associations, including the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), have endorsed a brochure entitled “Europe needs safe and innovative nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.” According to the brochure, the associations “support the European Commission conclusion that the current European regulatory framework adequately covers nanomaterials, is science-based and proportionate.” The brochure...

Lynn L. Bergeson has been named one of the ten "Most Highly Regarded Individuals" in the world in the field of environmental law by Who's Who Legal in its 2014 compendium. This is the third year Ms. Bergeson has been named in the top ten list of individuals recognized as the most highly regarded by clients and peers, and the tenth year she has been listed in the publication overall. In addition to listing Ms. Bergeson among the top ten, Who's Who Legal 2014 offers this...

On July 31, 2014, EPA again extended the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) annual compliance reporting and attest engagement reporting deadlines for obligated parties under the law. The Agency issued a direct final rule extending the deadlines to 30 and 90 days, respectively, after the final 2014 RFS rule is published in the Federal Register. EPA simultaneously issued a rule proposing the new deadlines on which the public may comment. The new deadlines will become effective September 29, 2014,...

On August 5-7, 2014, the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and George Washington University (GWU) co-hosted a Sustainable Futures (SF) Training Workshop at GWU’s campus in Washington, D.C. During the sold out, three-day workshop, participants learned about a variety of tools, methods, and models that can be used to assess the hazard and potential exposure of chemicals. The intensive, hands-on training allowed...

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council, will hold a workshop entitled “Sensor Fabrication, Integration, and Commercialization” on September 11-12, 2014.  According to the August 7, 2014, Federal Register notice announcing the workshop, it will bring together experts from a wide-range of application areas, stages of product...

TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/EPCRA IARC Classifies Dichloromethane, Other Substances As Human Carcinogens: In June, an expert panel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that dichloromethane, a chemical substance used to make plastics, synthetic fibers, photographic films, and solvents, is a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A). IARC classified 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP), a solvent primarily used to make other chemicals, as a human carcinogen (Group 1). The expert panel...

On July 28, 2014, Sapphire Energy (Sapphire) announced that James Levine would replace CJ Warner as the Company's President and CEO. Mr. Levine had been the CEO of Verenium Corporation (Verenium). San Diego-based Sapphire focuses on the production of green crude made from algae. Verenium is an industrial biotechnology company developing commercial-scale enzyme solutions. Sapphire's press release with more information is available online.

Reportedly, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) plans to introduce a bill to modify the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The bill is expected to be introduced soon after EPA releases its final rule setting the final 2014 RFS volume requirements for obligated parties under the law. Just this week the Administration has made public statements to suggest that the final 2014 rule will increase volume requirements from the proposed version published last fall....