Nanoscale materials may figure in Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform. While not mentioning “nanotechnology,” a bill introduced on April 15, by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) addresses chemicals with “special substantive characteristics.” The bill authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate and compel data on new/special uses of existing chemicals “separate from any use of the chemical substance that does not exhibit such special...
July 2, 2010
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Legal Lookout: Endocrine Disruptors: Test Orders Abound,” Pollution Engineering, June 2010.
In April 2009, EPA identified a final list of 67 chemicals for initial screening under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). From October 2009 to April 2010, the agency issued more than 700 test orders. Responding to an EDSP test order can present challenging issues. The agency began implementing this mandate well over a decade ago through the EDSP....
TSCA/FIFRA/NTP/EPCRA EPA Releases Updated Schedule For Registration Review: On June 16, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of an updated schedule for the pesticide registration review program, the periodic review of all registered pesticides mandated under Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 3(g). 75 Fed. Reg. 34115. The updated schedule provides the timetable for opening dockets for the next four years of the...
Taiwan’s Council of Labor Affairs of the Executive Yuan (CLA) has developed and released operational guidelines for nominating existing chemical substances for listing on a national Inventory. Through creation of a national Inventory, Taiwan intends to strengthen its control over the manufacture, import, and use of chemicals in Taiwan, thus improving its national chemical management. It is a preparatory process for establishing the National Existing Chemical Substance Inventory. Once...
July 1, 2010
ANSI Webinar Will Discuss Draft Labeling Guidance
On July 9, 2010, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will host a webinar to discuss draft international guidance on the labeling of manufactured nano-objects and products containing manufactured nano-objects. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee (TC) 352 Nanotechnologies and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC 229 Nanotechnologies are jointly developing a Technical Specification entitled “Guidance on the labeling of...
The June 29, 2010, issue of Inside EPA’s Risk Policy Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the need for industry officials in the nanomaterials sector to “act proactively” to address nanomaterials-related research needs and adapt the National Research Council’s vision to achieve the goals of its plan....
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (CDTSC) released on June 23, 2010, the draft regulations for safer consumer product alternatives. CDTSC states that the draft regulations “would prioritize toxic chemicals and products, require manufacturers to seek safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in their products, and create tough governmental responses for lack of compliance.” Under the draft regulations, CDTSC would create a list of chemicals that it deems toxic and...
According to a report released on June 25, 2010, by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces challenges in effectively regulating nanomaterials that may be released in air, water, and waste because EPA lacks the technology to monitor and characterize these materials, or the statutes include volume-based regulatory thresholds that may be too high for effectively regulating the production and disposal of nanomaterials. In...
The June 25, 2010, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) use of Section 6(a)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to obtain information concerning nanoscale ingredients in registered pesticides....
According to a report released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces challenges in effectively regulating nanomaterials that may be released in air, water, and waste because EPA lacks the technology to monitor and characterize these materials, or the statutes include volume-based regulatory thresholds that may be too high for effectively regulating the production and disposal of nanomaterials. In preparing its report, GAO...