News & Events

Register Today For “The New TSCA — Overview and Summary of Major Changes: What to Expect and When to Expect It” Monday June 13, 20168:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time / 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time / 4:00 p.m. British Summer Time Speakers: Register Online With passage by unanimous consent voice vote of the U.S. Senate of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act on June 7, 2016, this bill that profoundly alters...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Michael S. Wenk, M.S., has joined our teams as Senior Regulatory Consultant. Mr. Wenk has managed global regulatory affairs and product stewardship divisions at Fortune 500 chemical and chemical product companies for over 20 years and is an internationally-recognized expert in chemical registration and regulation in Central and South America, and the Middle East. With a Master’s Degree in...

On June 8, 2016, Bloomberg Politics quoted Senior Government Affairs Consultant for Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®), James V. Aidala, on how the overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will impact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate chemicals. “It’s a very ambitious undertaking — it’s going to be hard,” said James Aidala, the former head of EPA’s chemical safety office and a consultant at Bergeson...

On June 8, 2016, the Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report article, “With Chemical Safety Law, Congress Hands EPA Herculean Task,” quoted James V. Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant for Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®). “It’s a very ambitious undertaking—it’s going to be hard,” said James Aidala, the former head of EPA’s chemical safety office and a consultant at Bergeson & Campbell. “It is going to take a long time, even if the...

On June 7, 2016, Chemical Week quoted Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®), about the challenges facing the implementation of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., says the new program will face a variety of hurdles because of the challenge of deadlines, resources, and “only a short (if any) honeymoon period. It might take a significant...

On June 7, 2016, the Wall Street Journal Risk & Compliance Journal reporter Ben DiPietro featured quotes by Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®), about the impact of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform on nanotechnology chemicals. The article “Updated Rule Offers Better Oversight of Nanotech Chemicals” explores how many nanotech chemicals were mostly ignored by the language of TSCA, but may now be reviewed by the U.S. Environmental...

On June 6, 2016, Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C., (B&C®), presented “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in the Mediterranean Region: Modern Agriculture and Technology” at the International Bar Association 4th Mediterranean Conference in Rome, Italy. Ms. Bergeson began her presentation with a discussion of the similarities between U.S. and European Union (EU) oversight systems. Both systems address comprehensively potential risks posed...

On June 2, 2016, Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), presented “The Nanotechnology Legal and Regulatory Landscape” at the 2016 International Nanotoxicology Congress in Boston. Ms. Bergeson stated that there are many ongoing global initiatives involving diverse governance aspects of nanoscale materials and many countries continue to make progress in defining nanoscale materials, addressing related definitional challenges, developing suitable...

On June 1, 2016, Lynn L. Bergeson, Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®) Managing Partner, was quoted in an Inside EPA article regarding possible Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform impacts on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate chemicals in finished products. EPA has not yet provided a cohesive regulatory policy on articles, so having a statutory requirement could ease some of those concerns, said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner...

On May 31, 2016, the Chemical Watch article “Advancing Nanotechnology Creates Product Stewardship Challenges,” quoted Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®). Lynn Bergeson, managing partner at Bergeson & Campbell, who also spoke at the product stewardship conference, told the audience that it is unlikely the final rule will happen in October. She also spoke of current “cutting-edge concerns” for the nanomaterial industry,...

Date: June 13, 2016, 11:00 a.m. (EDT), 8:00 a.m. (PDT)Price: Complimentary – click here to register Topics covered: Speakers: Chemical Watch Offers Complimentary Webinar Series on “The New TSCA”Moderated by Lynn L. Bergeson Register Online The passage on May 24, 2016, of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, widely expected to pass the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by President Obama within a...

On May 26, 2016, TIME Magazine published an article, “Will Congress’s Chemical Safety Reform Protect Us? It Depends,” reporting on the bipartisan passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, quoting Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C. (B&C®), Lynn L. Bergeson. In the past, states have stepped in to regulate chemicals in the absence of leadership by the federal government. Lynn Bergeson, managing partner at the...

On May 23, 2016, Senior Government Affairs Consultant for Bergeson and Campbell P.C. (B&C®), James V. Aidala, was quoted in the Washington Examiner article “White House Backs Congress’ Chemical Safety Overhaul.” Jim Aidala, a former EPA official who is now with consultants Bergeson & Campbell PC, said the legislation helps define which toxic chemicals the EPA can regulate. He expects the House to take up its version of the bill this week. He doesn’t expect the...

Many Americans today, including many legislators at the federal and state levels, were not yet born when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by President Nixon in 1970, or they were too young to appreciate how air and water quality were deteriorating until governments, private companies, and individual citizens stepped up to take action. The EPA Alumni Association, recognizing the importance of current and future generations understanding the history and lessons...

To prepare companies for the reporting period for the 2016 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule, June 1 – September 30, 2016, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) presented a webinar, “2016 Chemical Data Reporting: Don’t Despair; Get Prepared!,” on May 3, 2016.  A recording of the webinar, presentation slides, and a document containing detailed answers to the many questions submitted by webinar participants will be made available to B&C clients and...

The May 3, 2016, article “Make Chemical Reports to EPA Consistent: Former Official,” by Pat Rizzuto and published by the Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report, included comments made by B&C Senior Scientist Richard Engler, Ph.D. during B&C’s recent CDR webinar. […]Under its Next Generation Compliance initiative, the EPA will compare the data it receives from the Chemical Data Reporting, or CDR, rule to information obtained through other regulations, Richard Engler, a...

On May 2, 2016, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report published “EPA Expands Regions’ Chemical Management Role,” featuring comments from B&C Managing Partner Lynn L. Bergeson and B&C affiliate Charles Auer. The article discussed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) April 29, 2016 action to manage certain chemicals and related issues more than they traditionally have done. […]“The new regional role is a significant change as the regions did not...

As many of our clients and friends know, George W. Wilson, Jr. died last November. George served as Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) chief technology officer for many years. To those of us who knew and worked with George, we loved his passion for life, we relied upon his expertise in information technology, and we appreciated and benefitted from his vision for the seamless integration of business, information technology, and accounting. Many more who did...

On April 22, 2016, Lisa R. Burchi, of Counsel with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., presented “Regulatory Updates and Enforcement Trends,” at the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Western Region Meeting. Ms. Burchi’s presentation detailed how the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) sets priorities and enforcement strategies. OECA identifies compliance monitoring and assurance activities for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) New and...

On April 20, 2016, Jane S. Vergnes, Ph.D., DABT, Senior Toxicologist of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., chaired the “Microbeads: Regulatory & Safety Issues” session and an at the Grocery Manufacturers Association Science Forum. Panelists Jack Lindard, Ph.D., Brooke Tvermoes, Ph.D., and Michael Gruber discussed new federal regulations banning the sale of certain personal care products containing the synthetic polymer particles referred to as microbeads. Dr. Vergnes also moderated an...

On April 20, 2016, Lynn L. Bergeson presented on the regulatory framework created by reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) at the 2016 Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) Spring Conference. Throughout the course of the presentation, “The New TSCA Regulatory Framework Post-TSCA Reform,” Ms. Bergeson discussed the future of chemical management under TSCA regardless of when action is taken to implement TSCA reform. The presentation covered TSCA’s core provisions and authorities;...

On April 14, 2016, James V. Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., presented regarding the evolution of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) at the CropLife RISE Spring Conference in Arlington, Virginia. FQPA was created to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). During “FQPA 20 Years Later: The Evolution of Science,” Mr. Aidala discussed the history and creation of...

On April 15, 2016, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report published “European Commission Sets Out Terminology for Nanomaterial Assessment,” an article focusing on the EC Joint Research Center’s release of definitions for 43 nanotechnology risk assessment terms. […]JRC technical reports are respected resources that have demonstrable value, and can be widely used, but it has no binding legal effect, Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of the U.S.-headquartered law firm Bergeson &...

On April 5, 2016, Inside EPA included comments from a Pesticide Law and Policy Blog post written by B&C partner Lisa Campbell and B&C attorney Timothy Backstrom in the article “Bayer Eyes Rare FIFRA Hearing To Challenge EPA Pesticide Cancellation.”  Observers tracking the case say that whether the Office of Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) requires EPA to follow the lengthier cancellation process under FIFRA section 6(b) could inform...

On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Partial Exemption of Certain Chemical Substances from Reporting Additional Chemical Data final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule amends the list of chemical substances that are partially exempt from additional reporting requirements under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule. The rule applies to six biodiesel chemicals that are very similar to petroleum based biodiesel chemicals that are...

Register online. In two short months, the reporting period for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2016 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule, June 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016, will open. Will your company be ready? Are you well-versed in the new reporting elements that will be required in the 2016 reporting cycle? Do you know whether your chemicals will be subject to lower reporting thresholds, or if the 2012 reporting exemptions still apply? Are you...

On February 18, 2016, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Senior Chemist at Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), presented at Cellulosic Fuels: First Commercials and Beyond, a session at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference 2016 (ABLC2016).  Dr. Engler’s presentation, “TSCA and the Cellulosic Revolution,” covered Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) nomenclature, inventory, and model manufacturing process issues for cellulosic products.  The presentation...

On February 19, 2016, Kathleen M. Roberts, Executive Director of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), presented “Achieving Critical Policy Changes through Consortia” at the 2016 Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC2016).  Ms. Roberts presented as part of The Bioeconomy R&D Consortia Summit and discussed the work being done by BRAG to level the regulatory playing field for biobased chemicals.  BRAG has successfully petitioned the U.S....

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Oscar Hernandez, Ph.D. has joined our teams as Senior Regulatory Chemist. Dr. Hernandez is the former Director of the Risk Assessment Division (RAD) in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), where he managed a multi-disciplinary science group that provided expert scientific support in the areas of hazard and risk assessment of...

The December 2015 issue of Nature Biotechnology included comments by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. on keeping biotech rules current with scientific progress in the article “A face-lift for biotech rules begins.” To stay up to date with technology, Richard Engler, a senior chemist at the environmental law firm Bergeson & Campbell in Washington, DC, suggested that technology stewards be embedded in each of the relevant federal agencies. Their role would be to monitor...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Susan M. Kirsch has joined our teams as Government Affairs Advisor. Ms. Kirsch brings substantial regulatory and technical policy expertise at the local, state, and federal levels, with experience at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental and Natural Resource Division, and most recently the Association of Clean Water...

The December 14, 2015, Chemical Watch article “TSCA Bill Could Have ‘Huge’ Impact On Downstream Users,” included quotes from Lynn L. Bergeson on possible results of TSCA Reform. Changes to the chemical inventory as proposed in the US Senate Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform would have a “huge” impact on downstream users, according to Lynn Bergeson, owner of Bergeson & Campbell, PC.  Bill S697 proposes to reset the TSCA Inventory of Chemical...

On December 11, 2015, Chemical Watch, quoted Lynn Bergeson in the article “Senate TSCA Bill More Aligned With EPA Principles, Says Denison.” Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell, said it is possible that the Senate will approve S-697 before Congress adjourns in mid-December. “Until it emerges from the Senate we can’t have any further action on the bill,” she added....

The December 9, 2015, Daily Environment Report article “Evolving Chemical Issues Drive Change at Law Firms” included an interview with Lynn Bergeson and Heidi Lewis on how Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., has changed in the 10 years since REACH became law.  REACH became law in 2006 in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Since then, Bergeson & Campbell PC has seen “tremendous growth” said Heidi Brown Lewis, director of marketing for the firm....

The December 1, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report article “Swedish Agency Proposes Nanomaterials Reporting” included quotes from Lynn L. Bergeson. The proposal is not unexpected, said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of the law firm Bergeson & Campbell P.C., which has tracked policies for nanomaterials for more than a decade. Sweden’s National Action Plan, issued Oct. 8, 2013, recommended the creation of an inventory of products on the market that contain...

“TSCA Reform: What’s Happening Now, and What’s Next?” Request Recording and slides from “TSCA Reform Panel Summit: What’s Happening Now, and What’s Next?”  Program informational flyer George Washington University (GWU) Milken Institute School of Public Health, GWU Law School, Environmental Law Institute, Arnold & Porter LLP, and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Present:  TSCA Reform Panel Summit: What’s Happening Now, and What’s Next?...

A November 30, 2015 story in Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report on the federal approach to regulating bioengineered products and comments submitted by nearly a thousand organizations and individuals on the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology, featured commentary from B&C: Bergeson & Campbell PC, a law firm that represents companies working with emerging technologies, supported the efforts to update the framework but described structural...

B&C Managing Partner and Product Stewardship Society Board Member Lynn L. Bergeson’s presentation “Legal and Stewardship Issues Associated with EPDs and HPDs” was featured in the society’s Full Circle Blog:  “Regardless of what the law requires, disclosure is fast becoming a commercial imperative, especially for companies wanting to establish themselves as ‘green,’ said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner, Bergeson & Campbell, PC, during a...

The November 25, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report quoted Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., in the article “Diverse Parties Say Federal Biotech Rules Confusing.” Bergeson & Campbell PC, a law firm that represents companies working with emerging technologies, supported the efforts to update the framework but described structural problems that may thwart the White House’s intentions. The regulatory infrastructure is ill-suited to address synthetic biology—a new...

On November 24, 2015, Inside EPA published the article “TSCA Bill Faces Implementation Hurdles Despite Potential For Senate Vote.”  Jim V. Aidala was quoted discussing a possible implementation timeline if the TSCA Reform bill was passed. Former EPA toxics official Jim Aidala, now with the law firm Bergeson & Campbell, at the ELI event identified some of the time frames on rulemakings, new definitions, and administrative fees as potential “early implementation...

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The November 17, 2015, Chemical Watch article “Leading Republican Senators Pledge To ‘Rein In’ US EPA,” included a quote from Lynn L. Bergeson on a possible outcome of Republicans taking control of the Senate. “Given Senator Inhofe’s strong views on EPA, it would not surprise me if he took direct aim at many EPA initiatives, starting with, but by no means ending with, climate change,” said Lynn Bergeson of the law firm Bergeson & Campbell, which specialises...

The Acta Group (Acta®), a consulting firm affiliated with Washington, D.C. law firm Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), is seeking a pesticide registration specialist to join our growing team of regulatory consultants, scientists, and policy experts.  This position will be based in our Washington, D.C. office, although telework arrangements may be considered for the right candidate.  Applicants should be experienced in all aspects of preparing, submitting, and managing...

The November 10, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article  “Nanomaterials Said to Illustrate Need for TSCA Reform” included comments from Lynn L. Bergeson and the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association (NanoBCA) on the importance of TSCA reform for nanomaterials....

On November 6, 2015, Inside EPA included comments made by Richard E. Engler, Ph. D. at a public meeting held by EPA, USDA, and FDA to  update the federal coordinated framework for how the three agencies regulate biotechnology. […]Industry officials, meanwhile, emphasized biotechnology’s growing importance in food production and cautioned that over-regulation will stifle innovation. Officials with Dupont and the law firm Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., which...

The November 2, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article, “New Authority Not Expected for Biotech Framework Update,” included comments made by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. at the “Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products” public meeting held by FDA, USDA, and EPA.     […DuPont global director of corporate regulatory affairs Terry] Medley and Richard Engler, a senior chemist working for Bergeson & Campbell P.C., said the...

November 9, 20151:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EST)In-person and via Webcast Although the June 1, 2015, implementation date for hazard classification, label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) development, and packaging has passed, industry still struggles to comply with the new requirements. Many chemical manufacturers do not understand how to reclassify their hazardous chemicals, develop the appropriate labels and SDSs, or demonstrate “due diligence” to inspectors. Significant confusion remains...

The September 29, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article “States Urge Further Changes in TSCA-Reform Bill,” included comments made by Lynn L. Bergeson in a Bergeson & Campbell webinar.  Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell PC, discussed state pre-emption during a Sept. 24 webinar her law firm held on TSCA-reform legislation before the House and Senate. Her firm specializes in laws and regulations addressing chemicals. “State pre-emption remains...

Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted in the October 15, 2015, BNA Daily Environment Report article “Uncertain Regulatory Path Costs Biotech Companies” about the recent Wilson Center report “The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory System: Are We Getting it Right for Synthetic Biology?”:...

The October 26, 2015, Inside EPA article, “TSCA Reform Legislation Could Smooth Path For New Biotechnologies,” included comments made by Lynn L. Bergeson at an event hosted by the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project (synbio). Pending legislation in Congress to reform the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) could make it easier for EPA to assess the potential risks of new technologies, such as synthetic biology, and review requests to...