On August 28, 2013, California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC or department) Safer Consumer Products Regulations (regulations). The regulations took effect on October 1, 2013. The regulations are the much-anticipated regulatory implementation of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative. The regulations and final statement of reasons are available at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SCPRegulations.cfm. The scope of the...
November 1, 2013
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Lowering Silica Dust Exposure Limits,” Pollution Engineering, November 1, 2013.
In August 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a controversial rule lowering the 40-year-old permissible exposure limits (PEL) for crystalline silica particles. This is big news from an agency from that we hear little....
October 29, 2013
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Sweden Proposes National Action Plan for Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnology Now, October 17, 2013.
On October 8, 2013, Sweden issued a report proposing a national action plan for the safe use and management of nanomaterials. An English summary of the report’s recommendations is available at http://nanotech.lawbc.com/uploads/file/00125741.PDF...
October 29, 2013
Lynn L. Bergeson, “FDA Finds Current Regulatory Review Processes Protect Public from Risks of Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnology Now, October 29, 2013.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) posted a blog item on October 24, 2013, concerning the use of nanotechnology to develop new drugs....
October 15, 2013
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Toxic Chemicals: Prepare for Product Regulations,” Chemical Processing, October 15, 2013.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Safer Consumer Products Regulations are now in effect (See “California Cracks Down on Chemicals”). While the most onerous requirements for “responsible entities” (manufacturers, importers, assemblers and retailers) will not hit for a while, companies should consider taking some initial steps now to understand how these regulations may affect operations in the future....
The application of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to biobased chemicals is sometimes overlooked, given the enthusiasm supporting the commercialization of biobased products. This “Washington Watch” article explains TSCA’s application to these products and outlines strategies to ensure the successful marketing of biobased chemical products....
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted on September 30, 2013, a final report entitled Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles: A Case Study Presenting Priority Research Gaps for Future Risk Assessments....
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted on September 30, 2013, a final report entitled Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles: A Case Study Presenting Priority Research Gaps for Future Risk Assessments....
October 1, 2013
Lynn L. Bergeson, “New Executive Order Issued to Improve Safety at Chemical Manufacturing Facilities,” Pollution Engineering, October 1, 2013.
On Aug. 1, 2013, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13650, ordering federal agencies to review safety rules at chemical facilities in response to the April explosion at the West Fertilizer Co., in West, Texas. The order, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security, seeks to close gaps in the regulation of facilities that the government believes contributed to the fatal accident. Here is a summary of that order....
September 25, 2013
James V. Aidala, “Neonicotinoids: EPA’s New Get-Tough Measures,” Law360, September 25, 2013.
Throughout 2013, the issue of the contribution of pesticide use to the decline in honeybee colony health, known as colony collapse disorder (CCD), has been increasingly controversial. Of particular concern is the role that a particular class of pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, may play in CCD. While EPA generally maintains its view that pesticides, including the neonicotinoids, are one of many factors in contributing to CCD, in July 2013, it took steps to control more...