On April 27, 2023, Chemical Watch quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), regarding the proposed TSCA risk management rule that would ban all consumer uses and most commercial applications of methylene chloride. For ten continuing uses, the agency outlined a new workplace chemical protection programme (WCCP) requiring adherence to exposure limits well below those set by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)...
The National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) presents "IRS Issues Proposed Superfund Chemical Excise Tax Regulations – What Now, What is Next?". Now that there are proposed regulations for the superfund chemical excise tax, Director of Chemistry, Dr. Richard Engler of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and tax attorney Douglas Charnas of McGlinchey Stafford will provide an update on the tax, share their thoughts on the proposed rule, and highlight any outstanding...
On April 20, 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its updated High Risk List, which highlights 37 areas across the federal government that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, or that need broad reform. The High Risk List includes “Transforming EPA’s Process for Assessing and Controlling Toxic Chemicals.” GAO states that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to implement its mission of protecting public health and the...
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton On April 25, 2023, the Council of the European Union (EU) announced that it approved the conclusions on the opportunities of the bioeconomy in light of current challenges, with special emphasis on rural areas. Using biomass to produce food, materials, and energy can help boost rural communities, increase competitiveness, and combat many of the challenges facing the EU. According to the press release, in their conclusions, ministers...
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to announce the publication of Chemical Risk Governance, Volume XII of the Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law. Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, B&C, and Bethami Auerbach, Of Counsel, B&C, edited the volume with Adam D.K. Abelkop, Associate Professor and Director of Legal Writing, University of San Francisco School of Law, and Lucas Bergkamp, Senior Policy Adviser, European Governance & Sustainability Center, The...
April 27, 2023, 1:00 pm - 2:00 p.m. (EDT) via webinarBergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Director of Chemistry Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. will present during the National Association of Chemical Distributors’ (NACD) “IRS Issues Proposed Superfund Chemical Excise Tax Regulations -- What Now, What is Next?” webinar. In late March, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued long-awaited proposed Superfund (Comprehensive...
April 25, 2023
Senate Committee Will Hold Hearing on Impacts of Plastic Production and Disposal on Environmental Justice Communities
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on April 27, 2023, on “Impacts of Plastic Production and Disposal on Environmental Justice Communities.” Witnesses will include: Philip Landrigan, M.D., Director, Global Public Health Program and Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society; Sharon Lavigne, Founder, Rise St. James, Earth Island Institute; Chris Tandazo, Community Organizer, New Jersey Environmental...
On April 20, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a proposed rule under Section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would prohibit most uses of methylene chloride. EPA states that its unreasonable risk determination for methylene chloride was driven by risks associated with workers, occupational non-users (ONU), consumers, and those in close proximity to a consumer use. EPA identified risks for adverse human health effects,...
April 24, 2023
GAO Science and Tech Spotlight Describes Benefits of Synthetic Biology and Challenges Ahead
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a “Science & Tech Spotlight” on synthetic biology on April 17, 2023. GAO defines synthetic biology as “a multidisciplinary field of biotechnology that involves engineering the genetic material of organisms -- such as viruses, bacteria, yeast, plants, or animals -- to have new characteristics.” According to GAO, scientists are currently exploring the use of...