April 24, 2014

TSCA Reform: An In-Depth Analysis of the Revised Chemicals in Commerce Act Discussion Draft

On April 22, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on April 29, 2014, to review a revised draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA2). According to Shimkus, the revised draft “reflects suggestions from members on both sides of the aisle, as well as stakeholders and the administration.” CICA would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act...
April 23, 2014

Enforceable Consent Agreement: EPA Issues Testing Enforceable Consent Order for D4 — With Some Interesting Twists

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice on April 4, 2014, announcing that it issued a testing consent order that incorporates an enforceable consent agreement (ECA) for octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), a chemical intermediate and component of personal care products. 79 Fed. Reg. 18822. There are two big take away messages here. First, that EPA issued a testing order at all under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 4 is big news as none has...
April 1, 2014

Proposition 65: OEHHA Releases Pre-Regulatory Proposal for Revised Proposition 65 Warning Regulations

On March 7, 2014, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a pre-regulatory proposal for a potential draft regulation amending Proposition 65 regulations. Significantly — and likely controversially — the proposal seeks changes to the warning requirements to require more detailed information, including the names of the chemicals covered by individual warnings, the ways that individuals are exposed to these chemicals, and how individuals can avoid or reduce...
March 13, 2014

California Announces First Draft Priority Products under Safer Consumer Products Regulations

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced on March 13, 2014, the first draft Priority Products (PP) under the Safer Consumer Products Regulations (SCPR). The three draft PPs are: DTSC states that the designation as a draft PP “imposes no new regulatory requirements on manufacturers until DTSC finalizes it by adopting regulations.” Under the SCPR, DTSC will begin a rulemaking process for each PP, and DTSC anticipates it could take a year to...
March 12, 2014

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Draft TSCA Reform Legislation

On March 12, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing focused on the discussion draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA). On February 27, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the Subcommittee, released a much anticipated discussion draft that would update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The March 12 hearing was intended to provide the Subcommittee an opportunity to review the provisions of CICA....
March 3, 2014

Shimkus Releases Discussion Draft of TSCA Reform Legislation

On February 27, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, released a much anticipated discussion draft that would update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to Shimkus’ press release, the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA) “keys off” S. 1009, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), which was introduced on May 22, 2013, by the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator...
February 10, 2014

EPA Intends Final Rule to Ensure Protection of Data Submitters’ Rights

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated on February 5, 2014, a final rule revising and updating the regulations governing the procedures for the satisfaction of data requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Given the importance of data compensation rights, and the fact EPA has not weighed-in on this matter for over three decades, the rule is an important must read for pesticide stakeholders. The final rule addresses procedures for the...
February 4, 2014

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on TSCA Sections 4 and 8

On February 4, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing entitled “Testing of Chemicals and Reporting and Retention of Information under TSCA Sections 4 and 8.” This was the fifth hearing on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) convened by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee held oversight hearings on June 13, 2013, July 11, 2013, September 18, 2013, and November 13, 2013, that reviewed several core sections of...
January 27, 2014

Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act Introduced in the Senate

In direct response to the tragic and in many respects avoidable events that occurred in West Virginia earlier this month, on January 27, 2014, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced the Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act of 2014. The bill would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) by adding Part G — Protection of Surface Water from Contamination...
January 23, 2014

EPA Publishes Revised Notice of Arrival Form for Import of Pesticides and Devices Raising New Questions for Importers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised the Notice of Arrival (NOA) form (EPA Form 3540-1), the use of which is required for import of pesticides and pest control devices into the United States. Importers should begin using the new form immediately. The revised form and related instructions are available online. EPA has added optional information blocks, recommendations, and certain clarifications to the instructions. Some of these changes may be beneficial and respond to...
January 21, 2014

Canada’s PMRA Releases Proposed Special Review Process

On December 30, 2013, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) released a consultation document entitled Proposed Approach to Special Reviews – Consultation Document. The Consultation Document outlines the Pest Control Products Act legislative requirements for special reviews and PMRA’s proposed approach to conduct such special reviews. The document is available online. PMRA is accepting comments until January 29, 2014. PMRA states that any comments...
January 14, 2014

ALJ Decision Imposing Large Fine for TSCA Section 8(e) Penalty May Provide New Guidance on What Constitutes Corroborative Information under Section 8(e)

On November 12, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decision ordering Respondent Elementis Chromium Inc., f/k/a Elementis Chromium, LP (Elementis or Company), to pay a $2,571,800 civil penalty for violating Section 8(e) and Section 15(3)(B) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The decision is available online. Although the case is highly fact-specific, the decision, if upheld under any potential appeal, may be used...
January 2, 2014

Predictions for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) outlines below thoughts on what may be headed our way in 2014 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). We also offer a few thoughts on European and Asian developments pertinent to chemical regulatory matters. Although President Obama is well into his second term, the 2014 off-year elections, combined with the bitter partisan atmosphere in Washington, D.C., will result in a...
November 26, 2013

EPA Releases Draft Procurement Guidelines for Product Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels

On November 20, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to release for comment proposed Draft Guidelines for Product Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels for Voluntary Use in Federal Procurement (Draft Guidelines). EPA states the Draft Guidelines — developed by EPA, the General Services Administration (GSA), and other federal agencies following several “listening sessions” with a wide range of stakeholders — are...
November 14, 2013

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Chemical Safety Improvement Act

On November 13, 2013, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing on the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009) (CSIA), which was introduced in May 2013 by the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA). Earlier this year, the House Subcommittee held hearings to provide an overview of Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); examine TSCA Sections 5 and 14, which...
November 12, 2013

Court Partially Vacates and Remands EPA’s Decision Granting Conditional Registrations for HeiQ’s Nanosilver Products

On November 7, 2013, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision granting in part and denying in part the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) petition for review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) conditional registration of HeiQ AGS-20 and AGS-20 U (collectively, AGS-20) pesticide products that EPA has determined contain nanoscale silver (nanosilver). The court vacated EPA’s decision “insofar as it concluded that...
November 5, 2013

Countdown to December 1: How to Meet OSHA’s Training Deadline

There are 26 days remaining until the December 1 deadline by which employers must have trained their workers on the new label elements and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) format as required under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). While there is still time to meet the requirements, companies must act quickly. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta) can assist employers storing, using, or handling...
November 4, 2013

FTC Gets Tough on Green Guides and “Cracks Down” on Misleading and Unsubstantiated Environmental Marketing Claims

On October 29, 2013, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced six enforcement actions concerning misleading and unsubstantiated environmental marketing claims. In a case imposing a $450,000 civil penalty, FTC filed a complaint and consent order against a company for violating a 1994 FTC order prohibiting it from making unsupported green claims for its paper plates and bags. In the five other actions, FTC addressed biodegradable plastic claims for the first time. In one case, FTC...
October 2, 2013

EPA Announces Final Rule Concerning Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonates and Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate Chemical Substances

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed on September 30, 2013, a final rule amending a significant new use rule (SNUR) for perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical substances. The amendment adds PFAS chemical substances that have completed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) new chemical review process, but have not yet commenced production or import, and designates (for all listed PFAS chemical substances) “processing” as a significant new use. The final rule also...
October 1, 2013

DTSC Safer Consumer Products Regulations Effective Today

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC or Department) Safer Consumer Products Regulations (Regulations) take effect today. Memoranda providing background information on the Regulations are available online. The Regulations and Final Statement of Reasons are available online. The most onerous requirements for “responsible entities” (i.e., manufacturers, importers, assemblers, and retailers) will not be felt until DTSC identifies the first Priority...