The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) published a blog item on February 22, 2024, announcing its Chemical Exposure Action Map, a tool “designed to spur the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to transform the assessment of risks posed by toxic chemicals in our communities.” EDF states that the map focuses on multiple high-priority chemicals, highlighting the potential for cumulative risks. EDF notes that when conducting risk assessments under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA...
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February 22, 2024
Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. Quoted in Chemical Watch Article “TSCA new chemical submissions could surge ahead of fees hike”
On February 21, 2024, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. were featured in Chemical Watch’s article on a recently published update to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees rule. Richard Engler, director of chemistry with law firm Bergeson & Campbell, said he expects a surge, but is uncertain if there will be an overall increase in submissions or just an accelerated timeline for companies looking to get their notices in before the fee increase. The former...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 20, 2024, that it has released the latest Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. According to EPA, “[t]his biannual update to the public TSCA Inventory is part of EPA’s regular posting of non-confidential TSCA Inventory data.” EPA plans the next regular update of the Inventory for summer 2024. EPA states that the TSCA Inventory contains 86,741 chemicals of which 42,293 are active in U.S commerce. EPA notes that...
February 20, 2024
EPA’s February 21, 2024, Webinar on NAMs Will Include Case Study Using Branched Carboxylic Acids
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 16, 2024, that, in collaboration with the PETA Science Consortium International (PSCI), the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (EST) for a webinar on the use of new approach methodologies (NAM) or alternative methods to testing on vertebrate animals for chemical risk assessments. The presenters for the webinar,...
February 16, 2024
EPA Extends Submission Deadline for Polymer Exemption Reports and Accompanying Claims
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule on February 16, 2024, amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations for polymers manufactured under the terms of the polymer exemption by extending the submission deadline for reporting. 89 Fed. Reg. 12248. EPA notes that the regulations require that manufacturers (includes importers) of polymers manufactured under the terms of the exemption submit a report of manufacture or import by January 31 of the year...
February 15, 2024
Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. Quoted in Chemical Watch Article “US EPA forecasts issuing 14 TSCA test orders annually in coming years”
On February 14, 2024, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. were featured in Chemical Watch’s article on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) planned Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test orders. Richard Engler, director of chemistry with Bergeson & Campbell, said the test order forecast in the final fees rule is "much more reasonable" than what the agency outlined in 2022. Lynn Bergeson, the law firm’s managing partner, agreed. "EPA...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 14, 2024, the list of ten scientific experts selected to review the 2023 draft risk evaluation for tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Biographies of these experts are available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0265. EPA states that it will hold a virtual public meeting on March 5, 2024, to review the documents and draft charge questions being posed to the reviewers and address any...
On February 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final amendments to the 2018 final rule that established fees for the administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The final rule includes changes to the fee amounts and EPA’s total costs for administering TSCA; exemptions for entities subject to the EPA-initiated risk evaluation fees; exemptions for test rule fee activities; modifications to the self-identification and reporting requirements of...
February 13, 2024
OECD Tour de Table Includes Information on U.S. Developments on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published the latest edition of the Developments in Delegations on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials and Advanced Materials -- Tour de Table. The Tour de Table compiles information provided by delegations on the occasion of the 23rd meeting of the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) in June 2023. The Tour de Table lists U.S. developments on the human health and environmental safety of nanomaterials....
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 31, 2024, a 30-day public comment period on candidates currently under consideration for membership on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). This public comment period follows a November 2023 call for nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the SACC. EPA notes that there are currently 18 SACC members, with eight membership terms that will soon...