Archives

April 21, 2020

EPA Postpones SACC Meeting on Asbestos

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has postponed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) peer review virtual meeting scheduled for April 27-30, 2020, due to recent changes in the availability of SACC members for the review.  EPA states that given the importance of the draft risk evaluation for asbestos, it believes that “rescheduling for a time when more members are available is critical and will allow for a more robust...
April 20, 2020

Second Set of Draft Scope Documents Available for Public Comment

On April 17, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the second set of draft scope documents for the seven remaining chemicals designated as high-priority substances for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  As reported in our December 20, 2019, memorandum, EPA designated these chemicals as a high priority for risk evaluation in December 2019.  According to EPA, seeking public input on the conditions of use to be included in the risk...
April 17, 2020

EPA Holds Calls on Plan to Reduce Burden for Certain Stakeholders Subject to TSCA Fees Rule Requirements for EPA-Initiated Risk Evaluations

On April 16, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a call on its recently announced plan to reduce the burden for certain stakeholders subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule requirements for EPA-initiated risk evaluations.  The call covered: How EPA’s plan to initiate a rulemaking to consider proposing exemptions to the current rule’s requirements impacts manufacturers and other businesses;  What the “No Action Assurance” means for...
April 9, 2020

EPA Will Host April 16 Call on TSCA Fees for EPA-Initiated Risk Evaluations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a call on April 16, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on its recently announced plan to reduce burden for certain stakeholders subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule requirements for EPA-initiated risk evaluations.  The call will cover: TSCA fees rule requirements and processes associated with EPA-initiated risk evaluations;  EPA’s March 25, 2020, rulemaking announcement and “No...
April 8, 2020

EPA Receives Manufacturer Request for Risk Evaluation of D4

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 8, 2020, that it received a complete manufacturer request for EPA to conduct a risk evaluation of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) from Dow Silicones Corporation, Elkem Silicones USA Corporation, Evonik Corporation, Momentive Performance Materials, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc., and Wacker Chemical Corporation through the American Chemistry Council’s Silicones Environmental, Health, and Safety Center.  EPA states that...
April 7, 2020

EPA Releases Draft Scope Documents for Public Comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 6, 2020, that the first set of draft scope documents for the next group of chemicals undergoing risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is available for comment.  As reported in our December 20, 2019, memorandum, EPA designated these chemicals as a high priority for risk evaluation in December 2019.  According to EPA, seeking public input on the conditions of use to be included in the risk...
April 1, 2020

EPA Publishes Draft Risk Evaluation of Asbestos

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the draft risk evaluation of asbestos on March 30, 2020.  EPA reviewed a suite of potential asbestos exposures and made the following initial determinations on risk: EPA did not find risk to the environment.  For all the conditions of use included in the draft risk evaluation, EPA has preliminarily found no unreasonable risks to the environment under any of the conditions of use.  EPA’s draft risk evaluation...
March 27, 2020

EPA Will Consider Exemptions To TSCA Fees Rule For EPA-Initiated Risk Evaluations

By Lynn L. Bergeson The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 25, 2020, that it will consider a proposed rule that would look at providing exemptions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule in response to stakeholder concerns about implementation challenges. EPA states that by considering a proposal to narrow the broad scope of the current requirements, it “could significantly reduce burden on potentially thousands of businesses across the country while...
March 25, 2020

EPA Will Consider Exemptions to TSCA Fees Rule for EPA-Initiated Risk Evaluations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 25, 2020, that it will consider a proposed rule that would look at potential exemptions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule in response to stakeholder concerns about implementation challenges.  EPA states that by considering a proposal to narrow the broad scope of the current requirements, it “could significantly reduce burden on potentially thousands of businesses across the country while...
March 20, 2020

TSCA SACC Meeting on TCE Will Be Virtual Meeting

In a Federal Register notice published on March 20, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the March 24-26, 2020, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) meeting to review the draft risk evaluation for trichloroethylene (TCE) is being changed to a virtual public meeting.  85 Fed. Reg. 16096.  Participation will be by telephone and webcast only.  EPA states the meeting times and...