August 13, 2010

CDTSC Postpones Public Workshop on State and Federal Nanomaterial Activities

Due to California’s budget issues and resulting furlough for civil service employees, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (CDTSC) has postponed its August 13, 2010, workshop on state and federal nanomaterial activities. CDTSC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are cosponsoring the workshop to discuss the results of California’s carbon nanotube (CNT) information call-in, future data call-in requests for...
August 12, 2010

EPA Proposes Substantial Increase in Data Chemical Manufacturers Have to Report

The August 12, 2010, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule. Bergeson notes that EPA’s proposal to require reporting of all processing and use data that is “known to or reasonably ascertainable” by them “would broaden significantly the universe of information (and people) who would need to be canvassed” to...
August 12, 2010

Legislation Would Amend FIFRA to Clarify CWA Permit Requirements

On August 5, 2010, Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced legislation that would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to clarify that Clean Water Act (CWA) permits are not required for pesticide application in accordance with FIFRA (S. 3735). The Senate legislation is prompted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) June 4, 2010, notice...
August 10, 2010

Massachusetts Releases Nanotechnology Guidance Document

The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (MOTA) will post this week a Technology Guidance Document entitled “Nanotechnology — Considerations for Safe Development,” which includes recommendations intended to enhance the safety of nanotechnology.  According to MOTA, it is providing the Guidance for “the express purpose of assisting in the development of this technology, as failure to prevent exposures or releases will not just risk harm to health or the environment — it will...
August 9, 2010

Massachusetts Releases Nanotechnology Guidance Document

The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (MOTA) will post this week a Technology Guidance Document entitled “Nanotechnology — Considerations for Safe Development,” which includes recommendations intended to enhance the safety of nanotechnology. According to MOTA, it is providing the Guidance for “the express purpose of assisting in the development of this technology, as failure to prevent exposures or releases will not just risk harm to health or the environment...
August 4, 2010

OMB Receives EPA Notice Concerning Pesticide Products Containing Nanoscale Materials

According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website, on July 30, 2010, OMB received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a notice concerning “Pesticide Products Containing Nanoscale Materials.” No additional information regarding the notice is available on OMB’s website. During the April 29, 2010, meeting of EPA’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), William Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), stated that EPA was in the...
August 3, 2010

NIEHS Begins Intramural NanoHealth Signature Program

The August 2010 issue of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Environmental Factor includes an article regarding the Intramural NanoHealth Signature Program, which is intended to investigate the health effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in susceptible populations. According to the article, ENMs are increasingly found in medications, cosmetics, electronics, and other consumer products, creating environmental as well as occupational...
August 3, 2010

Charles Auer Testimony on H.R. 5820

Charlie Auer submitted testimony today on H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010. As many of you know, Charlie is affiliated with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C), and we are pleased to share the copy of Charlie’s testimony for your information. The testimony Charlie prepared is offered strictly on his own behalf, and does not reflect anyone’s views other than Charlie’s. That said, given Charlie’s intimate understanding of the Toxic Substances Control Act and...
August 1, 2010

Monthly Update for August 2010

TSCA/FIFRA/NTP/EPCRA EPA And Other Federal Agencies Collaborate To Improve Chemical Screening: On July 19, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)/National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the National Institute of Health Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) announced the addition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Tox21 collaboration. The Tox21 collaboration enables federal agencies to develop ways to...