July 1, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “U.S. Issues Guidance for Regulating Nanotechnology,” Chemical Processing, July 2011.

On June 9, 2011, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released principles specific to the regulation and oversight of nanotechnology applications. The principles are intended to guide the development and implementation of policies, as described in “U.S. Decision-Making Concerning Regulation and Oversight of Application of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials.” This column discusses the principles and outlines their role in the governance of nanotechnology in the United States....
July 1, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Protect Yourself:  OSHA Releases a New Guidance,” Manufacturing Today, Summer 2011.

For the manufacturing work force, selecting and requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of the most important elements of assuring a safe and healthful work environment. What PPE to wear, who pays for it and how to determine which is the right PPE to protect against a known hazard in the workplace are all critically important issues, both from the perspective of an employee’s personal safety and an employer’s freedom from...
June 21, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Protect Yourself,” Manufacturing Today, Summer 2011.

For the manufacturing work force, selecting and requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of the most important elements of assuring a safe and healthful work environment. What PPE to wear, who pays for it and how to determine which is the right PPE to protect against a known hazard in the workplace are all critically important issues, both from the perspective of an employee’s personal safety and an employer’s freedom from...
June 21, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “State Chemical Reform Initiatives:  Advocates Press for Change,” Environmental Quality Management, Summer 2011.

The federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has remained largely unchanged since its adoption in 1976, some 35 years ago. Congressional inaction has not gone unnoticed by state governments, which are increasingly dismayed by their federal counterpart’s seeming indifference to the public’s demand for stricter chemical controls and its growing distrust of federal chemical-control measures. As a result, states are taking matters into their own hands by adopting laws, resolutions, and...
June 15, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, James V. Aidala, and Charles M. Auer, “Principles For Regulating Nanotech,” Law 360, June 15, 2011.

On June 9, 2011, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced that the White House Emerging Technologies Interagency Policy Coordination Committee (ETIPC) has developed a set of principles specific to the regulation and oversight of applications of nanotechnology. The principles are intended to guide the development and implementation of policies, as described in the title “U.S. decision-making concerning regulation and oversight of nanotechnology and nanomaterials”...
June 1, 2011

Lisa R. Burchi, Lisa M. Campbell, Leslie S. MacDougall, and Lynn L. Bergeson, co-authors, “Data Citation and Compensation: How REACH Compares With the FIFRA Scheme,” BNA Daily Environment Report, June 1, 2011.

The European Union’s REACH regulation is a complex chemical management regulation intended to replace approximately 40 previously existing legal instruments with a single EU regulatory scheme for all chemical substances (both new and existing substances). It also creates a data compensation scheme for entities that must rely upon studies another entity generated to complete their registration for a particular chemical substance. This article provides background on REACH registration, data...
June 1, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “U.S. Wants More Transparency in Trade,” Chemical Processing, June 2011.

On May 19, 2011, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) jointly issued a memorandum to U.S. departments and agencies highlighting the importance of regulatory transparency and openness to promoting international trade. The memorandum telegraphs the Administration’s renewed emphasis on the significant role international collaboration has in domestic policy development....
May 6, 2011

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., “Australia Announces Updates on NICNAS New Chemicals Processes for Industrial Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnologies Industries Association, May 6, 2011.

As nano aficionados know, last October the Australian Chemical Gazette included a notice that the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) announced that it was introducing new administrative processes for the notification and assessment of industrial nanomaterials that are considered to be “new” chemicals. The new administrative provisions were effective on January 1, 2011, and apply to any new chemical that falls under the working definition of...
May 2, 2011

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Could TSCA Reform Be Coming Soon?,” Chemical Processing, May 2011.

On April 14, 2011, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847) to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Lautenberg initiated similar legislation, S. 3209, in the 111th Congress. Below is a summary of key differences between Lautenberg’s S. 847 and S. 3209....