On October 3, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final significant new use rule (SNUR) under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance identified generically as bimodal mixture consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and other classes of carbon nanotubes (CNT), which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-11-482.
On September 29, 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture of China (MOA) issued the final revisions to Data Requirements on Pesticide Registration (MOA Proclamation No. 2569). The revisions will become effective on November 1, 2017, under the new Regulation on Pesticide Administration (RPA) and Pesticide Registration Management Measures (MOA Order No. 3, 2017). The draft revisions to Data Requirements on Pesticide Registration were initially released for public comment on...
October 2, 2017
Methods and Guidance for Testing the Efficacy of Antimicrobials against Spores of Clostridium difficile
On September 29, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of two final test method Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobials against spores of Clostridium difficile (C. diff). EPA Microbiology Laboratory Branch (MLB) SOP MB-28: Procedure for the Production and Storage of Spores of Clostridium difficile for Use in the Efficacy Evaluation of Antimicrobial Agents; and EPA MLB SOP MB-31:...
October 2, 2017
NIA Will Hold Webinar on Safe by Design for Nanomaterials
On October 24, 2017, the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) will hold a webinar on Safe by Design for nanomaterials. NIA states that the webinar is free and open to all actors interested in nanomaterials and their safe management throughout their lifecycle, using the principles of Safe by Design from the earliest development stages. According to NIA, the webinar will bring together projects active in the creation of Safe by Design across Europe to inform participants of the...
October 2, 2017
Senate EPW Committee Reschedules Hearing on Nominations of EPA Officials to October 4, 2017
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) has rescheduled the full committee hearing on four U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominations to Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The four nominations are: Michael Dourson, Ph.D., for Assistant Administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP); Matthew Leopold, Esquire, for General Counsel; David Ross, Esquire, for Assistant Administrator for Water; and William L....
TSCA/FIFRA/TRI EPA Schedules PPDC Meeting: On October 13, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the scheduling of a Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) meeting for November 1-2, 2017. 82 Fed. Reg. 47733. An agenda is expected to be made available by October 18, 2017.PPDC meetings provide the EPA Administrator with advice and information on pesticide issues from stakeholders, including the public, states, and others. EPA Issues Test Methods And...
On September 25, 2017, Petitioners Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (collectively Petitioners) in Ninth Circuit Case Nos. 17-72260 and 17-72501 (regarding review of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) framework rule Procedures for Prioritization of Chemicals for Risk Evaluation) filed a joint opposition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) motion to transfer to the Fourth Circuit and hold cases in abeyance. On September 14, 2017,...
September 29, 2017
Switzerland Intends to Require Notification of Fibrous Nanomaterials Placed on the Market
On September 29, 2017, Switzerland notified the European Commission (EC) of a draft amendment to the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations. The notification states that the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations regulates the risk assessment of chemicals and the requirements to be fulfilled for using and placing on the market of chemicals that could endanger human health or the environment. According to the...
September 29, 2017
DOE Announces $22 Million In Funding For Marine Biomass Production
By Lauren M. Graham, Ph.D. On September 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 18 projects from the Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources (MARINER) program will receive $22 million in funding through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The MARINER projects aim to develop tools to address the technological challenges to growing and harvesting macroalgae efficiently and cost-effectively for use as a feedstock for biofuels and other...
September 29, 2017
DOE Announces $15 Million In Funding For Integrated Biorefinery Optimization
By Lauren M. Graham, Ph.D. On September 20, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced that DOE selected eight projects related to the optimization of integrated biorefineries (IBR) to negotiate for up to $15 million in DOE funding. The projects aim to solve critical research and developmental challenges encountered for the successful scale-up and reliable operations of IBRs, to decrease capital and operating expenses, and to focus on the manufacture of advanced or cellulosic...