On August 1, 2023, Earthjustice filed a citizen petition under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish regulations prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, use, and distribution of N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number® (CAS RN®) 793-24-8) for and in tires. Earthjustice filed the petition on behalf of the Yurok Tribe, the Port Gamble...
August 8, 2023
EPA Will Accept Comment on Potential Expansion of Safer Choice and DfE Programs, Announces August 29, 2023, Webinar
On July 25, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an opportunity for public input on the potential expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) programs’ certification to new product categories. EPA notes in its July 27, 2023, Federal Register notice that Safer Choice “helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.” 88...
August 8, 2023
EUON Publishes Study Identifying Status of Animal-Free Test Methods for Use on Nanomaterials
On August 2, 2023, the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced that it published a study that systematically reviews and assesses alternative methods for the testing of the safety of nanomaterials without the use of animals. According to EUON, the main aim of the study was to collect and provide accurate and transparent information on new approach methodologies (NAM) available for the human safety assessment of nanomaterials and to create a comprehensive...
August 7, 2023
EPA Announces First Product Categories for Expansion of Ecolabel Recommendations for Federal Purchasing
On August 1, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first five product and service categories chosen for the expansion of its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Recommendations). EPA notes that this action supports the broader effort announced last year to expand the Recommendations by assessing additional standards and ecolabels. EPA states that later in 2023, it anticipates announcing the...
August 7, 2023
OIG Reports that EPA “Lacks Complete Guidance for the New Chemicals Program to Ensure Consistency and Transparency in Decisions”
On August 2, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report entitled The EPA Lacks Complete Guidance for the New Chemicals Program to Ensure Consistency and Transparency in Decisions. According to OIG, EPA’s New Chemicals Division (NCD) “lacks assurance that the new chemicals review process operates as intended and achieves its objective to protect human health and the environment.” OIG made four recommendations, including...
August 7, 2023
Maine Invites Stakeholder Comment on Rule Concept Draft Language Prohibiting Sale of Food Packages Containing PFAS
On August 3, 2023, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) announced that it would accept stakeholder comment on its rule concept draft language that would prohibit manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors from offering for sale or for promotional purposes in Maine certain types of food packaging to which per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been intentionally introduced. MDEP states that it has the authority to prohibit the sale of a food package to which...
August 4, 2023
BETO Announces Release of New Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Case Studies and Technical Reports
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton On July 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced that its Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) recently published eight new technical reports and case studies. According to BETO, the publications examine the environmental and economic impacts of a variety of feedstock characteristics and processing techniques: Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Impacts of Forest Residue...
August 3, 2023
The Hazard Communication Standard — A Conversation with Lesa Rice-Jackson, CPPS, Ph.D.
August 3, 2023
OECD Publishes Consensus Document on Environmental Considerations for the Release of Transgenic Plan
By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton On July 27, 2023, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published a new document in its Series on Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, Safety Assessment of Transgenic Organisms in the Environment, Volume 10: OECD Consensus Document on Environmental Considerations for the Release of Transgenic Plants. The document addresses environmental risk/safety assessment at a broader level than previous consensus...
August 2, 2023
Environmental Regulation in Practice 2023: New Challenges and Priorities, August 2, 2023, via webinar
The Practising Law Institute presents Environmental Regulation in Practice 2023, analyzing current regulations including proposed amendments and judicial challenges concerning toxic chemicals, e-commerce, and public project developments, among other critical developments. Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), will present. ...