TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Launches Advisory Panels: On June 15, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched two advisory panels designed to facilitate small businesses to provide feedback to EPA on three solvents. EPA has established a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for a proposed rulemaking seeking to limit trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical used in commercial degreasing operations, dry cleaning operations, and consumer products. EPA also created a panel...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI TSCA Reform Bill Is Sent To President Obama For Signature: It has been reported that on June 14, 2016, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch (R-UT) signed the bill to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), sending it to President Barack Obama for his signature. On June 7, 2016, the Senate passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act by voice vote. It is...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI Office Of Inspector General Considers Pesticide Imports: In a memorandum dated April 22, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) informed EPA that it plans “to begin preliminary research to assess the EPA’s inspections of, and enforcement against, illegal pesticide imports.” OIG will review, among other aspects of the program, whether EPA is effectively identifying pesticide imports for...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Issues SNUR For TCE: On April 8, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for trichloroethylene (TCE). 81 Fed. Reg. 20535. The significant new use is the manufacture or processing for use in a consumer product, with the exception for use of TCE in cleaners and solvent degreasers, film cleaners, hoof polishes, lubricants, mirror edge sealants, and pepper spray....
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Extends Comment Period On Chlorinated Paraffins Risk Assessments: On February 22, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the comment period on the draft risk assessments it has prepared for certain medium and long chain chlorinated paraffins. 81 Fed. Reg. 8712. This is an important opportunity to comment on the risk assessments prepared by EPA following the submission of Premanufacture Notifications (PMN) on certain chlorinated paraffins...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI NAS Hosts Workshop On Low Dose Toxicity: On February 3, 2016, the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), Engineering, and Medicine Low Dose Committee heard presentations on several chemicals and the potential effect each may have on reproductive systems. The chemicals considered included: bisphenol A, dioxin, and phthalates. The Committee will assess whether these three chemicals are suitable as case studies for review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Seeks Comment And New Information On Risk Assessments For Pending PMNs For Chlorinated Paraffins: On December 23, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested “new available data on certain chlorinated paraffins” in different industries for different uses, and comment on risk assessments for long- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins prepared in the context of EPA’s review of certain premanufacture notices (PMN) submitted...
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. extends its best wishes to our clients and many friends and we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, peaceful, and safe New Year. As we have for many years, the firm has made a contribution to the House of Ruth, a shelter for battered women and their children, in lieu of gifts to our clients, and on our clients’ behalf. TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Issues Final Rule Adding 1-Bromopropane To EPCRA...
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. extends its best wishes to our clients and many friends and we wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving Day and a delightful holiday season. * * * * * REGISTER TO ATTEND THE “TSCA REFORM PANEL SUMMIT,” OR TO VIEW THE LIVE WEBCAST, AT THE ELI WEBSITE. George Washington University (GWU) Milken Institute School of Public Health, GWU Law School, Environmental Law Institute, Arnold &...
On October 15, 2015, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) issued a report, “The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory System: Are We Getting It Right For Synthetic Biology?,” authored by the legal experts, scientists, and policy specialists of B&C and released through the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project. A panel discussion and live webcast, “Leveraging Synthetic Biology’s Promise...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Releases TSCA Assessment Documents For Flame Retardant Chemicals: On August 18, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment three Problem Formulation and Initial Assessment documents and a Data Needs Assessment (DNA) document for one of four structurally similar flame retardant chemical clusters being reviewed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan assessment effort. 80 Fed. Reg. 49997. The goal of these...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Issues Direct Final Rule On Significant New Use Notification Electronic Reporting: On July 20, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a direct final rule amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5 electronic reporting regulations. 80 Fed. Reg. 42739. The electronic reporting regulations establish standards and requirements for use of EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) to submit electronically premanufacture notices (PMN),...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Seeks Comment On Series 810 Test Guidelines: On June 17, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability for comment of several Series 810, non-binding, draft test guidelines developed by the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). 80 Fed. Reg. 34638. The test guidelines provide guidance on conducting testing by the public and companies that are subject to EPA data submission requirements under OCSPP’s...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Denies Petition To Ban Triclosan: On May 13, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition submitted in January 2010 by Food & Water Watch and Beyond Pesticides seeking to ban triclosan, an antibacterial compound. According to EPA, “the information available at this time does not support granting the majority of the relief requested. The agency notes, however, that it is currently engaged across various programs in assessing the...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Releases TSCA Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation, Initial Assessment For 1,4-Dioxane: On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan Chemical Problem Formulation and Initial Assessment for 1,4-Dioxane, a chemical used primarily as a solvent in the manufacture of other chemicals. 80 Fed. Reg. 23545. A first step in the assessment of TSCA Work Plan chemicals, the 1,4-Dioxane Problem...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EAB Reverses Epic Penalty In Elementis Case, But Affirms EPA’s “Continuing” TSCA Section 8(e) Interpretation: On March 13, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) reversed the November 2013 Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruling that Elementis must pay a $2.5 million penalty for failing to submit a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notice on a 2002 study showing hexavalent chromium causes...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA Extends Deadline On TDI SNUR: On February 23, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the deadline of its proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) concerning 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate unspecified isomers (TDI) and related compounds. 80 Fed. Reg. 9427. EPA extended the comment period for 45 days, from March 16, 2015, to April 30, 2015. EPA Extends Comment Period On Proposed SNUR For 13...
TSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRI EPA OEI Office Announces Transfer Of TRI Program To OPPT: On January 22, 2015, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Environmental Information (OEI) announced that EPA has begun the process of transferring the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program to the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT). EPA believes this move would leverage better scientific and technical expertise in both EPA program offices and make the TRI program a more integral...
Predictions And Outlook For EPA’s Office Of Chemical Safety And Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) 2015: 2015 will be a very interesting year. There are two overarching considerations that will make the year more difficult to predict than merely assuming most of this year’s issues will simply be extensions of past issues, with a few new initiatives sprinkled in. First, the new Republican majority in the Senate will change the dynamic between the Executive and Legislative branches....
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. extends its best wishes to our clients and many friends and we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year. As we have for many years, the firm has made a contribution to the House of Ruth, a shelter for battered women and their children, in lieu of gifts to our clients, and on our clients’ behalf. Global Chemical Control Handbook Published by ABA SEER The attorneys, scientists,...