December 5, 2024

District Court Grants Summary Judgment in Part to Plaintiffs, Vacating and Remanding Final SECURE Rule to USDA

On December 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it acknowledges the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s December 2, 2024, ruling prospectively vacating USDA’s May 2020 final rule for organisms developed using genetic engineering. National Family Farm Coalition, et al. v. Vilsack (No. 3:21-cv-05695-JD). As reported in our May 18, 2020, memorandum, the final Sustainable, Ecological,...
December 4, 2024

Petitions Filed to Add Several Chemicals to List of Taxable Substances; Comments Due January 28, 2025

On November 29, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that petitions have been filed to add the following chemicals to the list of taxable substances: Di-isobutyl ketone (89 Fed. Reg. 94879): ALTIVIA Ketones & Additives, LLC, an exporter of di-isobutyl ketone, filed the petition. According to the petition, di-isobutyl ketone is an organic compound that is used in solvents; paints and coatings; automobile refinishing; and pharmaceuticals. Di-isobutyl ketone is made from...
December 4, 2024

EPA Announces 2025 Annual Pesticide Maintenance Fee Forms Available to Download from EPA Website — Deadline for Paying Is January 15, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the annual pesticide registration maintenance fee materials for fiscal year (FY) 2025. The deadline for payment of EPA’s annual maintenance fee for pesticide registration is January 15, 2025. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 4(i)(1)(A) requires everyone who holds an active or suspended pesticide registration granted under FIFRA Sections 3 and 24(c) (special local needs) to pay an annual maintenance...
December 4, 2024

EPA Announces Release of Draft Guidance to Support Registration of Pre-saturated Disinfecting Wipes

On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of its draft guidance for public comment to support registration and evaluation of efficacy claims for pre-saturated antimicrobial towelettes on hard non-porous surfaces such as stainless steel, metal, glass, hard plastic, or sealed wood, commonly seen in the market as “disinfecting wipes,” using a recently approved standard test method. The draft guidance is available at EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0414-0004....
December 4, 2024

DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory Will Hold Webinar on Bioenergy Feedstock Library on December 11, 2024

On December 11, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will hold a webinar on its Bioenergy Feedstock Library, “a cornerstone database resource funded by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and how it supports bioenergy research.” According to DOE, the Bioenergy Feedstock Library provides information and knowledge on over 100,000 bioenergy feedstock samples, supporting U.S. bioeconomy development by providing standardized data on biomass...
December 3, 2024

Senate Subcommittee to Hold December 5 Hearing on Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures

The Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on December 5, 2024, titled “Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures.” The Subcommittee will hear from the following witnesses: Laurel Schaider, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Environmental Chemistry and Engineering, Silent Spring Institute; Sue Fenton, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Health and...
December 3, 2024

APHIS Revises and Adds Exemptions for Plants Modified or Produced through Genetic Engineering

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on November 13, 2024, that it added modifications a plant may contain and qualify for exemption from regulations governing movement of organisms modified or produced using genetic engineering because the modifications are achievable through conventional breeding. 89 Fed. Reg. 89569. As reported in our November 16, 2023, blog item, APHIS had proposed five types of modifications: Plants that...
November 27, 2024

DOE Releases New Report on Pathways to Commercial Liftoff for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on November 13, 2024, the release of its latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report, “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Sustainable Aviation Fuel,” which analyzes the technical and commercial readiness of several sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production pathways and highlights steps that both the public and private sector can take to make the United States a global leader in SAF production as soon as 2030. According to DOE, key findings from...
November 26, 2024

EPA Announces the Availability of Thousands of Records on EPA’s Review of Studies on Pesticides

On November 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of more than 4,500 Data Evaluation Records (DER) in ChemView, a public portal that houses data and review of toxic chemicals. EPA defines a DER as the documented EPA review of studies submitted during the request to register a pesticide or during the registration review process. The studies for which EPA may prepare a DER include product chemistry, toxicology, ecological effects, human exposure, spray...
November 26, 2024

What to Expect from the New Administration: B&C Offers Podcast, Webinar, and Newly Launched “Public Policy and Regulation Blog”

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to offer clients and friends these timely resources to prepare for the eventful year expected in 2025. PODCAST: Election Outcome — A Conversation with James V. Aidala and Mark J. Washko The latest episode of All Things Chemical®, features Lynn L. Bergeson speaking with James V. Aidala and Mark J. Washko to get their take on the very eventful past weeks and seek their thoughts on what 2025 might look like legislatively and at the U.S....