March 1, 2011, is the deadline for owners or operators of facilities covered under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to file annual "Tier II" reporting forms to the appropriate state and local agencies. Under EPCRA Section 312, any facility required under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to maintain material safety data sheets (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals and that stores these chemicals on-site during the year in an...
February 18, 2011
OECD Publishes Booklet on Nanosafety at the OECD
On February 14, 2011, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published a booklet entitled Nanosafety at the OECD: The First Five Years 2006-2010, which covers highlights of activities, priority areas, and major outcomes, as well as outreach in dealing with safety issues arising from manufactured nanomaterials. Regarding next steps, OECD states that its research and development program regarding manufactured nanomaterials is “processing rapidly,” so the program...
February 17, 2011
President Obama Requests Additional Funding for NNI
Under the fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget request submitted by President Obama to Congress on February 14, 2011, funding for the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) would increase by $201 million, to $2.1 billion. According to an Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) fact sheet, agencies participating in the NNI have developed three signature initiatives in areas ready for advances through close and targeted program-level interagency collaboration: Nanoelectronics for 2020 and...
February 17, 2011
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Workplace Falls Get Fresh Attention,” Chemical Processing, August 2010.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is tackling a major source of industrial injuries -- slips, trips and falls on workplace surfaces. On May 24, OSHA proposed significant revisions to Subparts D and I of the general industry standards dealing with walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment (PPE), respectively. This column outlines the reasons why OSHA believes changes are needed to protect workers, and key revisions to these standards.
February 11, 2011
Respondents to House Committee Identify FIFRA and TSCA Regulatory Actions as Impediments to Job Growth
On February 10, 2011, during a hearing on "Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation," the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a preliminary staff report entitled Assessing Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation. In December 2010, Committee Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent letters to over 150 businesses, industry organizations, and think tanks asking for examples of existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth, as well as suggestions on...
February 11, 2011
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., “Nanotech and Jobs: Congress Weighs In,” Nanotechnology Industries Association Newsletter, February 11, 2011.
The new Republication-led House of Representatives has expressed its concerns with what it refers to as the adverse impact of regulations on jobs and the economy.
February 9, 2011
NNI Releases 2011 Strategic Plan
This week the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released the 2011 NNI Strategic Plan. According to NNI, the Plan retains the “overall vision,” four goals, and eight program component areas outlined in the previous edition of the Plan, which was released in December 2007. For the first time, the Plan includes specific objectives under each goal, outlining concrete steps that NNI member agencies will take toward...
Both Turkey and South Korea are working to implement chemical management programs to comply with broader international initiatives. In December 2009, Turkey implemented new legislation concerning the classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP) of dangerous substances and preparations, and a regulation on safety data sheets (SDS) for dangerous substances and preparations. South Korea has initiated a process for the management of chemicals, with the objective of minimizing the harmful effects...
February 9, 2011
Practising Law Institute (PLI) Environmental Regulation 2011: Managing in the Face of Rapid Change, February 9, 2011. New York, New York.
Lynn L. Bergeson spoke on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and nanotechnology. More information.
February 8, 2011
The Netherlands Will Require Nanotechnology Development to Include Investment in Risk Analysis
On January 31, 2011, State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment, Joop Atsma, announced that joint investments in the development of nanotechnology made by the public and private sectors in the Netherlands must devote at least 15 percent of the investment to risk analyses. According to a spokesperson, the new requirement includes an €80 million ($110.4 million) investment approved by the previous government and matched by the private sector. The independent Committee for Societal...