By Lynn L. Bergeson On May 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected four research and development (R&D) projects focused on the interaction between promising biofuels and combustion engines. As part of the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative, the four projects will leverage National Laboratory capabilities that can bring biofuel-engine combinations closer to commercial adoption. Each project awardee will...
On May 12, 2021, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on several Department of the Interior and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominees, including Michal Freedhoff, Ph.D., to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). In her opening statement, Dr. Freedhoff stated that during her time working for the legislative branch, she believes that she “earned a reputation for being fair,...
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) will hold a virtual public meeting on May 26, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT). NYSDEC will present topics for discussion related to implementation of the recently enacted law, which created ingredient disclosure requirements for children’s products. Title 9 of Article 37 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) establishes an ingredient disclosure program and prohibits certain chemicals in...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 11, 2021, that it has launched a new application in the Central Data Exchange (CDX), EPA’s electronic reporting site, that will allow users to submit electronically certain communications under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to EPA, the new application provides users with a faster, secure, and more convenient way to comply with TSCA reporting requirements and is “expected to be used for hundreds of...
May 10, 2021
Outstanding TSCA Events This June: Conferences, In-Depth Training, and “TSCA Reform: Five Years Later” Symposium
Lawyers, regulatory experts, and product stewardship professionals engaged in Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) compliance have an unusually rich array of conferences and trainings to attend next month. Professionals of all levels and tenures can find programs to meet their requirements, from one-day key developments updates, to multi-day fundamentals training, to “TSCA Reform: Five Years Later,” the fifth anniversary of this celebrated symposium, presented by the Environmental Law...
May 10, 2021
Prominent Industry and Agency Veterans Join Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and The Acta Group
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Dennis R. Deziel, former Regional Administrator, Region 1 (New England), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Todd Stedeford, Ph.D., DABT®, ERT, ATS, former Senior Science Advisor in EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), have joined our firms. Dennis R. Deziel, Senior Government Affairs Advisor for B&C and Acta, provides the firms’ clients with an...
May 10, 2021
EFSA Panel Concludes That Titanium Dioxide Cannot Be Considered Safe as a Food Additive
On May 6, 2021, the European Food Safety Association (EFSA) announced that E171 is no longer considered safe when used as a food additive. The European Commission (EC) asked EFSA to update its safety assessment of the food additive titanium dioxide (E171). EFSA states: “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel [on Food Additives and Flavorings] concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. ...
May 10, 2021
EPA Announces Disclosure Of CBI In RFS SRE Petitions And Related Information In EPA’s EMTS
By Lynn L. Bergeson On May 5, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice of disclosure to all obligated parties under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program that have submitted small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions and to all parties whose RFS information otherwise resides in EPA’s Moderated Transaction System (EMTS). EPA’s action is in response to a U.S. Government of Accountability Office (GAO) request to disclose such...
May 7, 2021
EPA Announces Upcoming Webinars on Use of Non-Animal Test Methods in Chemical Risk Assessment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 7, 2021, that it is partnering with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Science Consortium International, Unilever, and Syngenta on a three-part virtual workshop series on “Using In Silico and In Vitro Approaches for Next Generation Risk Assessment of Potential Respiratory Toxicants.” EPA states that this webinar series supports its commitment “to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to reduce,...
May 7, 2021
EC Review of Its Recommendation on the Definition of Nanomaterial Includes Targeted Stakeholder Consultation
In 2011, the European Commission (EC) adopted a Recommendation on the definition of a nanomaterial. The Recommendation invites member states, European Union (EU) agencies, and economic operators to use the definition “in the adoption and implementation of legislation and policy and research programmes concerning products of nanotechnologies.” The EC is now reviewing its Recommendation. It has launched a targeted stakeholder consultation to update, test, and...