The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) has released the minutes of its November 3-5, 2009, meeting regarding evaluation of the hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products. In addition to the general observations noted here, more information is available in our February 8, 2010, memorandum. First, the SAP final recommendations address nanosilver almost entirely, and little or no mention is...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) has released the minutes of its November 3-5, 2009, meeting regarding evaluation of the hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products. Before summarizing the SAP’s primary conclusions and recommendations, we note a few general observations. First, the SAP final recommendations address nanosilver almost entirely, and little or no mention is made of “nanometal...
February 4, 2010
Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing Regarding Current Science on Public Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
Today the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a hearing entitled “Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.” Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, criticized the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for failing to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the necessary authority to protect the public from unsafe chemicals. Lautenberg stated that he intends...
February 3, 2010
Ruth Downes, Kevin Goulden, and Tabitha Harrison Join Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s Affiliate, The ACTA Group EU, Ltd
Each Brings Extensive Experience in International Chemical Regulatory Issues The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) is pleased to announce the addition of Ruth Downes, Kevin Goulden, and Tabitha Harrison to its European Union consulting practice. Their combined extensive knowledge of international chemical and health and safety regulatory programs will supplement the skill sets of other Acta EU professionals. Ms. Downes specializes in Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and...
February 3, 2010
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Disclosure Protection May Narrow,” Chemical Processing, February 2010.
A business’ ability to claim information as confidential when submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may soon be at risk, based on several EPA initiatives rolled out over the past year. As Congress gears up for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) legislative reform, stakeholders are preparing for changes in the scope of confidential business information (CBI) protection under TSCA....
TSCA/FIFRA/NTP EPA Announces New Practice Regarding CBI: On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new practice concerning confidential business information (CBI) claims for substantial risk information submitted to EPA under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e). 75 Fed. Reg. 3462. According to EPA’s announcement, if a chemical substance is listed on the public portion of the TSCA Inventory, EPA expects a company submitting a health...
February 1, 2010
Lynn L. Bergeson, “EPA Moves Closer to GHG Control,” Pollution Engineering, February 2010.
EPA has put itself on the path toward greenhouse gas regulation, but in Congress, the courts, and the international community, the debate rages on. On Dec. 7, 2009, EPA moved one step closer to imposing the first ever set of enforceable greenhouse gas (GHG) standards on tailpipe emissions from vehicles, and a requirement that large power plants and industrial emitters install best available control technology (BACT) to reduce emissions....
On January 26, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) announced that it intends to issue a cancellation order for the pesticide spirotetramat pursuant to Section 6(a)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). A comment period is now open on the existing stocks provisions of the planned cancellation order. Comments are due February 8, 2010. EPA states that, on December 23, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the...
January 28, 2010
NIOSH Announces Articles Addressing Nanomaterial Exposure Issues
On January 19, 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced three new peer-reviewed articles co-authored by NIOSH researchers. According to NIOSH, the articles report findings and conclusions from studies that examined issues related to potential occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials. Two articles in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene report on the design and application of the nanomaterial emission assessment technique,...
Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final rule amending the polymer exemption rule, which provides an exemption from the premanufacture notification (PMN) requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The amendment excludes from eligibility polymers containing as an integral part of their composition, except as impurities, certain perfluoroalkyl moieties consisting of a CF3- or longer chain length. This exclusion includes polymers that contain any one or...