The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as part of the activities of the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), is conducting a stakeholder survey on the substances available as nanomaterials in the EU market. The survey includes a market study of the nanomaterials, including substances, uses, volumes, and key operators in the EU. According to EUON’s May 21, 2021, news item, the survey aims to provide an overview of the substances that are available as...
On March 1, 2021, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) received for review under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a proposed rule entitled “Reporting and Recordkeeping for Perfluoroalkyl or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)” (Proposed Rule). This action is required under Section 7351 of the National Defense...
The Agricultural Law Section of the International Bar Association (IBA) presented "How to opt out of climate-unfriendly food: consumer action or regulatory restrictions?," a webinar looking at how laws, regulations, and climate-related policies achieve these objectives and support climate change goals. Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is Senior Vice Chair of the Agricultural Law Section and B&C is a proud sponsor of this...
May 25, 2021
EPA Responds to Petition Seeking RCRA and TSCA Regulatory Action for Phosphogypsum and Process Wastewater
On May 21, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its response to a portion of the petition it received February 8, 2021, from People for Protecting Peace River, Center for Biological Diversity, and 16 other organizations. 86 Fed. Reg. 27546. While the petition requested three actions related to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA states that it has determined that only one of those actions is an appropriate request: a request to issue a test rule under TSCA...
Registration has opened for a June 8, 2021, webinar held by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative on “What We Know about NanoEHS: Human Health.” The webinar will feature experts from diverse disciplines who will share their perspectives on key findings on the effects of engineered nanomaterials on human health. Janet Carter, Senior Scientist, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), will moderate. The panel will include: Leanne Gilbertson, Assistant...
May 24, 2021
Yvette T. Collazo Steps Down as Director of EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Effective May 21, 2021, Yvette T. Collazo has resigned as the Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT). Collazo began as OPPT Director in March 2020. During her tenure, OPPT’s accomplishments include: Publishing final risk evaluations for the first ten chemicals reviewed under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and initiating the risk evaluation process for the next 20 high-priority chemicals; Beginning...
May 24, 2021
Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted by Law 360 in “4 Ways Biden Is Making Headway On Chemical Oversight”
On May 21, 2021, Law 360 quoted Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), regarding some of the first moves of the Biden Administration. President Joe Biden picked Michal Freedhoff, who helped draft the amendments and worked for the Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee during the Trump administration, to lead the agency's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Freedhoff is already in place at...
May 24, 2021
EP Announces Funding For Projects Focused On The Transition To A Sustainable, Climate-Neutral, And C
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A. On May 18, 2021, the European Parliament (EP) issued a press release announcing the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to assist European Union (EU) countries to address climate neutrality goals. The Just Transition Fund is composed of €7.5 billion from the European Commission’s (EC) long-term EU budget under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and €10 billion from the EU recovery plan, NextGenerationEU....
The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) will hold a webinar on June 2, 2021, on nanosensors for food and agriculture. NNI states that nanotechnology-enabled sensors (nanosensors) “are promising tools to advance precision agriculture and support a safe and robust food supply chain, from farm to fork.” Panelists will discuss how the development and deployment of nanosensors could transform agriculture and food safety. They will highlight the state of the science,...
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared a strategic plan for the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) for fiscal years (FY) 2021-2023. The strategic plan outlines how OPPT intends to fulfill its obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), and related EPA policies and procedures “in ways that value...