August 7, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “EPA Promulgates SNURs for Two Carbon Nanotube Substances,” Nanotechnology Now, August 7, 2013.

On August 7, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated significant new use rules (SNUR) through a direct final rule for 53 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN), including two PMN substances whose reported chemical names include the term "carbon nanotube" (CNT).
August 1, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, Charles M. Auer, and R. David Peveler, “TSCA and the Regulation of Renewable Chemicals,” American Oil Chemists, July/August, 2013.

While regulators are generally supportive of new chemistries that can replace older, petroleum-based ones, biobased chemicals are subject to the same Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that governs every other chemical substance in the United States. Surprisingly, biobased chemicals that are considered to be “new chemicals” may actually receive more scrutiny under this law than established chemicals do. The following article provides practical information about the TSCA provisions that are...
August 1, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, Kathleen M. Roberts, and Heidi B. Lewis, “Why BRAG™ Before You Go to Market? The Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG) Helps Companies Commercialize Their Products,” Industrial Biotechnology, August 2013.

Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable biobased products. The renewable chemicals’ market is estimated to reach $83.4 billion by 2018 in applications ranging from transportation and agriculture to textiles and cosmetics. In addition to all the elements great companies need to succeed -- a great product, a great brand, inspiring leadership, and vision -- biobased product companies need to understand how the U.S. Environmental...
August 1, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “The Chemical Safety Improvement Act,” Pollution Engineering, August 1, 2013.

Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced S. 1009, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), in May 2013. The CSIA provides a new approach to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform that, to date, has met with broad stakeholder approval. Highlights of the draft bill are below.
July 31, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “ITC Seeks Information to Support Investigation of How EU Trade Restrictions Affect Exports of U.S. SMEs,” Nanotechnology Now, July 31, 2013.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) published a notice in the July 30, 2013, Federal Register announcing that, following receipt of a letter from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), it instituted investigation No. 332-541, "Trade Barriers that U.S. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union."
July 10, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Isotope Fact Sheet Warrants a Close Look,” Chemical Processing, July 10, 2013.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a fact sheet (www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems/pubs/isotopes.pdf) on reporting chemical substances that contain different isotopes of the same elements listed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. The document has enforcement consequences, so stakeholders should review it carefully. This column explains its significance. 
July 1, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “GAO to EPA, Improve Chemical Controls,” Pollution Engineering, July 1, 2013.

On April 29, 2013, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled “Toxic Substances: EPA Has Increased Efforts to Assess and Control Chemicals but Could Strengthen Its Approach.” The report is available at www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-249. This article summarizes the findings and its implications.
June 26, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “EC Begins Consultation on the REACH Annexes on Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnology Now, June 26, 2013.

On June 21, 2013, the European Commission (EC) began a consultation on the modification of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation annexes on nanomaterials. According to the EC, the objective of the initiative is to provide further clarity on how nanomaterials are addressed.
June 21, 2013

Lynn L. Bergeson, “US EPA Releases Draft TSCA Chemical Risk Assessment,” Environmental Quality Management, Summer 2013.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) released its first draft risk assessments developed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) “Work Plan Program” on January 4, 2013. The draft risk assessments cover particular uses of five chemicals found in household products. While the chemicals covered in these first draft assessments may or may not be of interest to Environmental Quality Management readers, the draft assessments can give us a sense of how the Agency is...