Archives

May 11, 2015

EPA Direct Final Rule Includes SNURs for Several Biobased Chemicals

On May 8, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNUR) for 25 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN).  The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 25 chemical substances for an activity that is designated in the SNUR as a significant new use to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that...
May 8, 2015

EPA Will Hold Public Meeting on Proposed Rule on Nanoscale Materials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the May 8, 2015, Federal Register announcing a public meeting on June 11, 2015, to discuss EPA’s April 6, 2015, proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale. This is a very important opportunity for stakeholders to offer comments on a rulemaking that has important implications for the nano community....
May 8, 2015

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? PR Newswire, "Cargill Acquires OPX Biotechnologies' Fermentation Technology" ? Bio-Based Industries: Public-Private Partnership, "Bio-Based Industries Workshop Selected For Open Days" ? Plastics Today, "Bayer MaterialScience Introduces Biobased PU for Fashion and Footwear" ? DesignNews, "Chemical Industry, Environmentalists Unite on Toxic Substances Control Act Legislation" ? Times-Call Business, "Cargill Acquires Boulder-based OPX...
May 8, 2015

Biofuels Digest Series On TSCA And The Bioeconomy

Biofuels Digest is running a "Thought Leadership" series of articles highlighting some of the ways the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) applies to biobased products. The articles, written by Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) Senior Policy Advisor and former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Chemistry program, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., cover key points throughout the manufacturing and commercialization process at which...
May 1, 2015

U.S. Senate EPW Committee Passes TSCA Reform Legislation

On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW Committee) passed by a 15-5 vote a version of S. 697, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This action by the EPW Committee paves the way for consideration of S. 697 — legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) — by the full U.S. Senate. The authors of S. 697, Senators David...
April 23, 2015

Oil Price Information Network Features Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., in “TSCA Nomenclature May Be Barri

The Oil Price Information Network (OPIS) spoke with BRAG's Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Senior Policy Advisor with B&C, regarding the application of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to oils made from algae feedstocks and other non-traditional bio-materials. The resulting article, "TSCA Nomenclature May Be Barrier for Advanced Biofuels," from the OPIS Ethanol & Biodiesel Newsletter is excerpted below, and reprinted in full at the link with permission from OPIS. TSCA...
April 16, 2015

House Subcommittee Hearing On TSCA Modernization Act

On April 14, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing on the TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 discussion draft (TMA-DD). An analysis of the April 7, 2015, TMA-DD is available on the Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) website. The April 14, 2015, witnesses’ testimonies are posted on the Energy & Commerce Committee website....
April 6, 2015

Comments Due July 6 on Proposed Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Nanoscale Materials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when manufactured or processed at the nanoscale was published in the April 6, 2015, Federal Register.  EPA proposes to require persons that manufacture or process these chemical substances to report electronically to EPA certain information, including the specific chemical identity, production...
March 20, 2015

Senate EPW Hearing On TSCA Reform

On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing on S. 697, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The following individuals testified during the hearing: James Jones, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Dr. Richard Denison, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund; Dr. Edward McCabe, Senior Vice President and Chief...
March 13, 2015

ABLC2015 Underway In Washington

The Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) is underway in Washington, and the discussions and presentations have been lively. At the opening “Policy Outlook” forum Wednesday morning, Biofuels Digest Editor Jim Lane welcomed the leaders gathered, including more than 130 C-level attendees, and introduced the heads of the “7 families” on the dais representing the key trade groups involved in biobased policy, one of which is the Biobased and Renewable Products...