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....
November 26, 2024

Election Outcome — A Conversation with James V. Aidala and Mark J. Washko

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with our two government affairs experts, Jim Aidala and Mark Washko, to get their take on the very eventful past two weeks and seek their thoughts on what 2025 might look like legislatively and at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administratively. With the Republican trifecta and some surprising Cabinet and EPA-designate picks, we have much to discuss. We cover the election results, the transition period between now and Inauguration...
November 25, 2024

BETO Will Host Project Peer Review April 22-25, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will host the next Project Peer Review from April 22-25, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia.  During the 2025 Project Peer Review, around 200 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public and systematically reviewed by external subject-matter experts from academia, industry, and federal agencies. BETO notes that the Project Peer Review will have several simultaneous...
November 25, 2024

Senator Markey Reintroduces Legislation to Amend the Toxic Substances Control Act and Provide Grants to Remediate Toxics in Schools

On November 20, 2024, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representative Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) introduced the Get Toxic Substances Out of Schools Act of 2024. This is the third consecutive Congress in which Senator Markey has introduced similar legislation. The 118th Congress version, S. 5363 and H.R. 10173, builds on earlier versions by authorizing new grants to address indoor air quality in schools and childcare centers. Congress is unlikely to act on this legislation in the few remaining weeks...
November 23, 2024

DOE Releases SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced on November 20, 2024, the release of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework. Developed by an interagency team led by DOE, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the framework is a supplemental document to the roadmap. Whereas the roadmap identified the actions needed to...