The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 28, 2022, the implementation of a new process by which the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will assess the science that informs decisions regarding EPA proposed rules. EPA states that the new process “will restore opportunities for peer review and strengthen the independence of” SAB. According to EPA, the new Science Supporting EPA Decisions process strengthens peer review at EPA by: Restoring SAB’s role by having...
Category: General
The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, has begun registration for a webinar series designed to inform exporters and manufacturers about potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) risks affecting their business: Part I: PFAS Basics: What you need to knowWednesday, March 9, 2022, 1:00 p.m. (EST)The first session will cover the PFAS basics, including where they are found, what health, environmental, and...
WEBINAR -- “UK REACH, What’s Happened And What’s Next?,” March 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (EDT)/15:00 - 16:00 (GMT): Companies worldwide must be aware of the significant implications for chemical regulatory compliance under the United Kingdom (UK) REACH regulation as the UK has completed its first year of complete separation from the European Union (EU). Companies should act quickly to understand their rights and obligations under UK REACH to maintain continuity of their...
February 28, 2022
EPA Provides Final Opportunity to Submit a Request under the 1980 Guidelines to Correct the Chemical Identity of a Substance on the TSCA Inventory
On February 25, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is revoking the 1980 guidelines and associated procedures for correcting the specific chemical identities of incorrectly described chemical substances submitted to EPA in 1978 using the original reporting form for inclusion on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. 87 Fed. Reg. 10781. EPA states that it is providing a final opportunity to use the 1980 guidelines and form to request corrections of...
February 25, 2022
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): One Size Does Not Fit All,” Chemical Processing, February 27, 2022.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are getting a lot of attention in the United States and globally. Their varied chemical properties make the categorization of “PFAS” into a single category chemically and scientifically questionable. Increasingly, the ability to make distinctions among this large chemical category is challenging, yet failure to do so could be unwise. This article provides information on PFAS, and offers a few suggestions to keep in mind when making business...
February 25, 2022
PA Proposes TSCA New Chemicals Collaborative Research Program, Will Hold Public Meeting in April
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a virtual public meeting April 20-21, 2022, to seek individual input on the proposed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) New Chemicals Collaborative Research Program. 87 Fed. Reg. 10784. In addition, EPA announced the availability of and is soliciting public comment on the draft document entitled “Modernizing the Process and Bringing Innovative Science to Evaluate New Chemicals Under TSCA.” EPA states that the Office of Chemical Safety...
February 23, 2022
Sustainable Cleaning Chemistries for a Healthier World, February 23, 2022, 3:00 p.m. EST, via webinar
Case Medical presents "Sustainable Cleaning Chemistries for a Healthier World," covering how healthcare can maintain optimal infection prevention without harm; how to reduce the impact of hazardous cleaning chemistries on patients and staff; the importance of cleaning and the science behind it; how validated cleaners and water quality contribute to better outcomes; and how safer chemical usage in healthcare settings can contribute to a healthier world. Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of...
February 23, 2022
NanoHarmony Survey Identifies Challenges in OECD Test Guidelines Development, Will Hold Webinar on March 1
As reported in our July 9, 2021, blog item, NanoHarmony aims to support the development of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines (TG) and guidance documents (GD) for eight endpoints where nanomaterial-adapted test methods have been identified as a regulatory priority. To identify difficulties arising during the development process for TGs and GDs, NanoHarmony asked stakeholders to share their experiences in a short survey. According to NanoHarmony’s...
February 23, 2022
Lynn L. Bergeson, “PFAS: making sound investment decisions,” Financier Worldwide, March 2022.
The ubiquity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the manufacturing sector’s decades-long reliance on them to impart functionalities in a dizzying array of products put the investor between the proverbial rock and a hard place. PFAS varied chemical properties make the broad categorisation of ‘PFAS’ into a monolithic category of ‘forever chemicals’ chemically and scientifically questionable. For better or worse, however, that is exactly what is happening today, and...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 22, 2022, the release of the updated Mercury Electronic Reporting (MER) application and compliance guide for calendar year 2021 data reporting. According to EPA, the updates make it easier to report information about the supply, use, and trade of mercury. The mercury rule applies to any person who manufactures (including imports) mercury or mercury-added products (including pre-assembled products that contain mercury-added...