July 4, 2022

Senate Committee On Environment And Public Works Holds Hearing On Implementation Of The Lautenberg A

By Lynn L. Bergeson On June 22, 2022, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on “Toxic Substances Control Act Amendments Implementation.” This coincides with the sixth anniversary of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act) that amended TSCA. The only witness present was Michal Freedhoff, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). The recording of...
July 1, 2022

Monthly Update for July 2022

Register Now For “TSCA New Approach Methodologies” On August 3, 2022: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to present “TSCA New Approach Methodologies,” a complimentary one-hour webinar that will highlight examples of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) use of non-vertebrate testing strategies, commonly referred to as “new approach methodologies” (NAM), in its evaluation of new and existing chemical substances under the Toxic Substances...
June 30, 2022

Final Revision to HBCD Risk Determination Finds HBCD, as a Whole Chemical Substance, Presents an Unreasonable Risk

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 29, 2022, the availability of the final revision to the risk determination for the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD) risk evaluation issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 87 Fed. Reg. 38747. The revision reflects EPA policy changes intended to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way that is supported by science and the law. EPA states that it determined that “HBCD,...
June 29, 2022

IRS Issues Procedures to Modify the List of Substances Subject to the Superfund Tax

As reported in our May 19, 2022, memorandum, the Superfund excise tax on certain chemical substances was reinstated beginning on July 1, 2022, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on June 24, 2022, that it has posted frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the Superfund chemical excise tax. The IRS released Revenue Procedure 2022-26, which provides the exclusive procedures for requesting a determination under Section 4672(a)(2) of the...
June 29, 2022

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Quoted by Bloomberg Law in Article “Cutting Industry Negotiation Said to Speed EPA Chemical Controls”

On June 29, 2022, Bloomberg Law quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), discussing the use of chemical consent orders to speed up the new chemical review process. Directly issuing orders would not resolve all the delays new chemical manufacturers experience, said Richard Engler, director of chemistry for Bergeson & Campbell, PC. The EPA’s new chemicals office already has negotiated nearly 200 consent orders for new...
June 29, 2022

TSCA Reform – Six Years Later, June 29, 2022, via webinar

This conference marked the sixth annual Toxic Substances Control Act Annual Conference. Leading panelists reflected on the challenges and accomplishments since the implementation of the 2016 Lautenberg Amendments and where the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) stands today. ELI, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, leading experts, and distinguished keynote speakers presented a robust...
June 28, 2022

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Chemical Compliance: Get Ready For Superfund Excise Tax,” Chemical Processing, June 22, 2022.

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), reinstating the Superfund excise tax on certain chemical substances under Sections 4661 and 4671 of the Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code). Effective July 1, 2022, the tax many were glad to see expire is back; the first deposit of the tax is due on July 29, 2022. This article discusses the tax and the challenges it poses.
June 27, 2022

All Things Chemical® Podcast Presents “Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use — A Conversation with EPA’s Jake Li

The latest episode of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) All Things Chemical® podcast, “Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use -- A Conversation with Jake Li,” features a conversation with Jake Li, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Conversation topics include what the Administration is doing to balance wildlife protection and...
June 27, 2022

EPA Announces New Chemical Engineering Initiative Intended to Increase Transparency and Reduce Rework

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 24, 2022, that it is “conducting a broad outreach effort to describe and discuss with stakeholders how the Agency evaluates data provided for new chemicals submissions and common issues that cause EPA to have to reconduct risk assessments (‘rework’) for these submissions.” According to EPA, its goal is to reduce rework of initial risk assessments for new chemicals submissions that is caused by submitters...
June 24, 2022

IRS Issues FAQs on Superfund Excise Tax on Certain Chemical Substances

The Internal Revenue Service announced on June 24, 2022, that it has posted frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the Superfund chemical excise tax. The FAQs detail what the Superfund chemical excise tax is, how the tax is computed, and who may be liable for the tax. The Superfund chemical taxes will be reported on Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, and Form 6627, Environmental Taxes. The excise taxes were reinstated beginning on July 1, 2022, under...