On September 20, 2022, the European Commission (EC) began a public consultation on a draft act that would introduce new hazard classes as part of its revision to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labeling, and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP). Hazard classes and criteria would be added for endocrine disruptors and substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT), very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), persistent, mobile, and toxic...
September 28, 2022
EC Opens Call for Evidence on a Proposal for a Basic Regulation for ECHA
On September 12, 2022, the European Commission (EC) opened a call for evidence on a proposal for a basic regulation for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). According to the EC, this initiative aims to strengthen ECHA governance and adapt it to its future role, as well as streamline the working methods of ECHA bodies and make their financing more sustainable. Responses are due October 10, 2022. The EC plans to adopt a regulation in the second quarter of 2023....
On September 7, 2022, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) held a webinar to introduce a cumulative risk assessment (CRA) framework that takes into account multiple exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors. Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Health at EDF, moderated the webinar. According to Vogel, for decades, environmental justice leaders have documented disproportionate chemical exposures to disadvantaged communities. These chemical and social stressors (e.g., racism and...
September 9, 2022
Final Revision to the Risk Determination for PV29 Finds that PV29, as a Whole Chemical Substance, Presents an Unreasonable Risk to Human Health
On September 6, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the final revision to the risk determination for the Colour Index Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) risk evaluation issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 87 Fed. Reg. 54491. EPA states that the revision to the PV29 risk determination reflects its announced policy changes to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way that is supported by...
On August 29, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and requested public comment on a draft revision to the risk determination for the carbon tetrachloride risk evaluation issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 87 Fed. Reg. 52766. EPA states that the draft revision to the carbon tetrachloride risk determination reflects its announced policy changes to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 26, 2022, that it will propose to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), “two of the most widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),” as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The proposal will include the salts and structural isomers of PFOA and PFOS. The rulemaking would require entities...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 19, 2022, that it will propose revisions to the Risk Management Program (RMP) rule to protect further vulnerable communities from chemical accidents, especially those living near facilities with high accident rates. According to EPA, the “Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention” (SCCAP) rule “would strengthen the existing program and includes new safeguards that have not been addressed in prior RMP...
August 22, 2022
EPA Will Discontinue Use of Exposure Modeling Thresholds When Assessing Health and Environmental Risks of New Chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 22, 2022, that as part of its commitment to re-evaluate policies and practices under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) New Chemicals Program to ensure they adhere to statutory requirements and the Biden Administration’s executive orders and directives, it has updated its policy to discontinue the use of exposure modeling thresholds when assessing the health and environmental risks of new chemicals under TSCA....
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a webinar on August 17, 2022, on the “EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap: Research Tools and Resources.” The webinar provided a brief overview of EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and ongoing efforts by EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) to address key per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research needs for environmental decision-making. During the webinar, ORD scientists highlighted two recently released data sources:...
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) held a webinar on June 27, 2022, on an initiative to convert historical letters of interpretation (LOI) applicable to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) that have been issued to specific stakeholders into broadly applicable frequently asked questions (FAQ) on its website. A recording of the webinar is available online. During the webinar, Bill Quade, Deputy Associate...