Archives

April 3, 2024

GAO Will Review EPA’s Practices for Managing and Assessing the Performance of Its New Chemicals Review Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided notice of disclosure on April 2, 2024, to all potentially affected businesses under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that submitted information to EPA pursuant to TSCA Section 5 that it will disclose information to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). 89 Fed. Reg 22713. According to the notice, GAO is initiating a review of EPA’s practices for managing and assessing the performance of EPA’s New Chemicals Review...
March 28, 2024

EPA Bans Ongoing Uses of Chrysotile Asbestos

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address to the extent necessary the unreasonable risk of injury to health presented by chrysotile asbestos based on the risks posed by certain conditions of use (COU). 89 Fed. Reg. 21970. According to the final rule, the injuries to human health include mesothelioma and lung, ovarian, and laryngeal cancers resulting from chronic inhalation exposure to chrysotile...
March 21, 2024

EPA Issues Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde, Preliminarily Finds That Formaldehyde Poses Unreasonable Risk to Human Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 15, 2024, the availability of and solicited public comment on the 2024 draft risk evaluation for formaldehyde prepared under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 18933. EPA states that it “preliminarily finds that formaldehyde poses unreasonable risk to human health. The risk evaluation notes that these risks may not apply to everyone, everywhere and describes some of the sources of uncertainties in EPA’s...
March 21, 2024

EPA Seeks Comment on Proposed Settlement Agreement to Conclude a TSCA Rulemaking Regulating Lead Wheel Weights

On March 13, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published notice of a proposed settlement agreement to address a petition for writ of mandamus filed by the Ecology Center, the Center for Environmental Health, United Parents Against Lead & Other Environmental Hazards, and the Sierra Club in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ecology Center v. EPA, No. 23-70158 (9th Cir.)). 89 Fed. Reg. 18408. The petitioners filed a petition for writ of mandamus on...
March 20, 2024

TSCA Reform – Eight Years Later, June 26, 2024, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, D.C., and via livestream

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute, (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health were pleased to present the complimentary “TSCA Reform – Eight Years Later” conference. Panelists discussed key hot topics, including chemical prioritization and risk evaluation, risk management, new chemical review, Section 21 petitions and other TSCA provisions available to third parties, and much more. A recording of the...
March 20, 2024

Product Sustainability USA 2024, June 26-27, 2024, Boston, MA

Chemical Watch presents Product Sustainability USA, a two-day conference focusing on the most recent developments around sustainability for the chemical industry and its downstream users, and how corporate and product sustainability is being shaped to achieve a safe circular economy.  Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., will present “TSCA – driver or barrier to sustainable chemistry?”
March 19, 2024

Save the Date for “TSCA Reform – 8 Years Later” on June 26, 2024

SAVE THE DATETSCA Reform – 8 Years LaterJune 26, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (EDT)George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, D.C., and via livestream Save the date to join Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health for a day-long conference reflecting on the challenges and accomplishments since the implementation of the 2016 Lautenberg...
March 12, 2024

EPA Announces Settlement with Haifa North America to Resolve Alleged TSCA Reporting Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 6, 2024, a settlement requiring Haifa North America, Inc. (Haifa) to pay a civil penalty of $664,267 “for violations of chemical data reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” EPA states that it alleged that Haifa failed to submit a data report required under TSCA for 32 chemical substances that Haifa had imported between 2016 and 2019. According to EPA, Haifa imports “various chemicals for...
March 11, 2024

EPA Seeks Nominations for Ad Hoc Reviewers to Assist SACC with Peer Reviewing DIDP and DINP

On February 29, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested public nominations of scientific and technical experts for service as ad hoc reviewers assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with the peer review of the Agency’s evaluation of the risks from di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) being conducted to inform risk management decisions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 14836. EPA states that it is...
March 4, 2024

EPA Accepting Comments on Candidates for Peer Review of Formaldehyde

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 28, 2024, that it is seeking public comment on the candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers to assist the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with its peer review of the Agency’s evaluation of the risks from formaldehyde being conducted to inform risk management decisions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 14648. The SACC peer review will take place during a...