Articles

There is an exciting and promising project underway that is being coordinated by the Research Foundation of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI-RF) called the NanoRelease Project.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances (OPPT) and Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) were both active with regard to nanoscale materials regulation and policy in 2010. The new year is expected to see comparable activity.

In response to concerns expressed by diverse stakeholders over the final draft of its Safer Consumer Product Alternatives (SCPA) regulations, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has delayed implementation of the regulations, which focus on chemicals and chemical ingredients in consumer products. The net effect of this recent development on the regulation of chemical substances in consumer products in California is uncertain. This column discusses the recent change in plans...

Determining whether the presence of nanoscale materials in chemical substances, mixtures, and articles triggers a disclosure obligation is complicated. The decision turns on a calculus that includes what law applies, what is known about the presence of nanoscale components, what knowledge standard applies, whether and how a nanoscale material is defined, and an entity’s interpretation of disclosure obligations. This article outlines the state of domestic environmental and securities law and...

On December 21, 2010, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued a much anticipated data call-in (DCI) for information regarding analytical test methods, and other relevant information, from manufacturers of nano silver, nano zero valent iron, nano titanium dioxide, nano zinc oxide, nano cerium oxide, and quantum dots.

In response to concerns vigorously expressed by diverse stakeholders over the final draft of the Safer Consumer Product Alternatives (SCPA) Regulations, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has effectively delayed implementation of the much-anticipated regulations.

Early in October, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released important revisions to its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides) to make them easier for companies to use and understand.

While debate continues to swirl around whether, and to what extent, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) needs retooling, just about everyone agrees that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) needs more information on chemical production, use, and exposure in order to make informed decisions about chemical risk management. Most also agree that TSCA could be put to greater use for these purposes.

New proposed shipping rules that harmonize with international standards will require some study.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posted on its website on October 14, 2010, its draft final rule concerning the creation of a publicly available, searchable database on the safety of consumer products and other substances subject to CPSC regulation. The database is intended to provide a single point of access to reports of harm involving consumer products, manufacturer's comments on the reports, and recall information. This article discusses this important new database, and briefly...

This article provides a summary outlook on possible implications of the 2010 congressional midterm elections on policy and legislative developments in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of chemicals and pesticides.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed important revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Update Rule (IUR). This column explains why chemical manufacturers and other stakeholders must be aware of the proposal and prepare now for its implications.

On April 15, 2010, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) released the text of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, S. 3209 (SCA),1 which is intended to address the “core failings” of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Who would have thought that an automated laboratory working around the clock could screen chemical substances for interactions with biological targets at speeds mere mortals could hardly consider — let alone match? Well, this is exactly what is occurring today thanks to a collaborative effort known as "Tox21" among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the National Institute of Health Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC). Recently, the U.S....

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released on June 23, 2010, draft regulations implementing California’s precedent-setting and game-changing Green Chemistry Initiative. Manufacturers need to understand how this controversial regulatory program may operate, and why it will alter forever the way consumer products are designed and manufactured.

On June 3, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This controversial rule set thresholds for GHG emissions that define when permits under the New Source Review Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V operating permit programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities.

There are many nanotechnology governance activities underway at the federal, state, and international levels of which nano aficionados should be aware. Here is a quick summary of key initiatives.

Nanotechnology governance initiatives in the US abound and there is no reason to think the pace will slow. Lynn L. Bergeson offers a summary of key initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently signaled interest in revising the hazardous materials regulations (HMR) governing transportation of combustible materials. PHMSA seeks to harmonize domestic and international regulations applicable to transportation of combustible liquids.