The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed on August 13, 2010, that it will conditionally register a pesticide product containing nanosilver as an active ingredient. According to EPA, the nanosilver active ingredient is intended for use as a preservative in textile products, including those made from natural and synthetic fibers and which are used to manufacture indoor use articles such as sheets, blankets, towels, napkins, outerwear, sportswear, sleepwear, undergarments, socks and...
Category: Metals and Mining
August 24, 2010
DOT Proposes to Harmonize Air and Marine Transport Regulations with International Standards
On August 24, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a proposed rule seeking to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) with international standards. 75 Fed. Reg. 52069. The proposal revises several proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. PHMSA states that these revisions are...
In the July 13, 2010, Federal Register, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guidance on various reporting options that states and local agencies may choose in implementing Sections 311 and 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). In addition, EPA also provides some new interpretations and revises some existing ones "to help facilities comply with certain of the requirements under EPCRA." The effective date of the guidance and...
Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued what it describes as a "common sense" approach to addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA) by phasing-in the deadlines by which facilities must obtain permits for GHG emissions. Specifically, this controversial final rule sets thresholds for GHG emissions that define when permits under the New Source Review (NSR) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Operating...
May 5, 2010
PPDC Discusses Nanotechnology and Pesticides
On April 29, 2010, during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) meeting, William Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), presented slides regarding nanotechnology and pesticides. Jordan briefly described how OPP is defining nanoscale materials and how the technology is being applied to the field of pesticides. His presentation described OPP’s recent consultation with EPA’s Scientific...
At yesterday's U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) meeting, William Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), presented slides regarding nanotechnology and pesticides. Jordan briefly described how OPP is defining nanoscale materials and how the technology is being applied to the field of pesticides. His presentation described OPP's recent consultation with EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) concerning nanosilver and...
March 9, 2010
ECHA Announces New Public Consultation on Eight Potential Substances of Very High Concern
Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed to identify eight chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorization under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The detailed proposals are available on the ECHA website online. Comments are due April 22, 2010. Potential Additions to the SVHC Listing Denmark, France, and Germany proposed identifying eight substances as SVHCs. ECHA...
On March 4, 2010, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled "TSCA and Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals: Examining Domestic and International Actions." The Subcommittee held the hearing to examine U.S. and international efforts to protect public health and the environment from persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals, how the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is currently being used...
February 10, 2010
SNWG Responds to SAP Report on Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Oxide Pesticide Products
In a February 5, 2010, letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs, the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG) provides its reactions to the recent Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) report on nanosilver and other nanometal oxide pesticide products. In its letter, SNWG highlights a number of the statements and recommendations from the SAP report that it considers “highly relevant for the shaping of EPA policy towards nanosilver...
In the February 9, 2010, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report, Lynn L. Bergeson states that the recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) create regulatory uncertainty, which will discourage companies hoping to enter the antimicrobial market for products containing nanosilver and other nanoscale metals. According to Bergeson, while SAP's recommendations urge EPA to obtain additional information on nanosilver before granting new...