April 18, 2023

PHMSA Requests Feedback on Recycled Plastics Policy

On April 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a request for feedback on its recycled plastics policy. 88 Fed. Reg. 23140. PHMSA states that it published the notice to solicit information pertaining to how the potential use of recycled plastic resins in the manufacturing of specification packagings may affect hazardous materials transportation safety; ensure transparency of its current policy pertaining...
April 17, 2023

NGO Seeks Review of TSCA Section 5 Order for a New Chemical Substance

Earthjustice announced on April 7, 2023, that Cherokee Concerned Citizens, a community group in Pascagoula, Mississippi, filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of an Order for a New Chemical Substance under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the petition, the August 11, 2022, Order authorizes Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to manufacture, process,...
April 14, 2023

EPA Will Hold Virtual Preparatory Meeting for SACC Review of Draft Documents Related to Cumulative Risk Assessment under TSCA

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a virtual public preparatory meeting for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) members, ad hoc reviewers, and the public to comment on and ask questions regarding the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions to be used for the May 8-11, 2023, review of two draft documents related to cumulative risk assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). As reported in our March 1,...
April 13, 2023

USDA Researchers Develop Natural, Washable, Antimicrobial Cleaning Wipes Using Nanocomposite Raw Cotton Fiber

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on April 11, 2023, that its Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently developed sustainable, machine-washable antimicrobial wipes that can be used at least 30 times for cleaning hard and nonporous surfaces. According to USDA, ARS researchers developed the antimicrobial wipes “by using raw cotton fiber that naturally produced silver nanoparticles inside the fiber in the presence of a silver precursor.” USDA states that the...
April 13, 2023

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Quoted by Chemical Watch in Article “EPA faces rare lawsuit over TSCA new chemical consent order”

On April 12, 2023, Chemical Watch quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), regarding a federal lawsuite filed by a Mississippi community group against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alleging the agency improperly approved the manufacture of a plastic-derived biofuel that “would result” in a high cancer risk to exposed residents.  Rich Engler, director of chemistry with Bergeson & Campbell, said the EPA...
April 13, 2023

Modernization of Cosmetic Regulations Act of 2022 — A Conversation with Karin F. Baron

Download transcript. This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Director of Hazard Communication and International Registration Strategy at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. Karin and I discuss the newly enacted Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, better known as MoCRA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been the subject of criticism for years over what some regard as inadequate regulation of cosmetics and the facilities where they...
April 13, 2023

EPA Publishes ANPRM Seeking Information to Assist in Consideration of Future CERCLA Regulations Regarding PFAS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on April 13, 2023, seeking information to assist in the consideration of potential development of future regulations pertaining to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). 88 Fed. Reg. 22399. EPA states that it seeks input and data regarding potential future hazardous substance designation under...
April 13, 2023

USDA Researchers Develop Natural, Washable, Antimicrobial Cleaning Wipes Using Nanocomposite Raw Cot

By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on April 11, 2023, that its Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently developed sustainable, machine-washable antimicrobial wipes that can be used at least 30 times for cleaning hard and nonporous surfaces. According to USDA, ARS researchers developed the antimicrobial wipes “by using raw cotton fiber that naturally produced silver nanoparticles inside the fiber in the presence of a silver...
April 12, 2023

USDA Researchers Develop Natural, Washable, Antimicrobial Cleaning Wipes Using Nanocomposite Raw Cotton Fiber

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on April 11, 2023, that its Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently developed sustainable, machine-washable antimicrobial wipes that can be used at least 30 times for cleaning hard and nonporous surfaces. According to USDA, ARS researchers developed the antimicrobial wipes “by using raw cotton fiber that naturally produced silver nanoparticles inside the fiber in the presence of a silver precursor.” USDA states that the...
April 12, 2023

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Congress Strengthens Cosmetics Regulations,” Chemical Processing, April 12, 2023.

In a somewhat unexpected move, Congress enacted the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) on December 29, 2022, as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act. MoCRA significantly strengthens the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority over cosmetic products. Key provisions are summarized in this article....