Archives

July 24, 2024

Lynn L Bergeson, Kelly N Garson, “Loper Bright and TSCA: Will the demise of Chevron matter?,” Chemical Watch, July 22, 2024.

The standard of judicial review for most critical TSCA determinations under section 19 is "substantial evidence in the record taken as a whole". This is a tough standard, considerably more rigorous than the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) standard under section 706, where agency action will be set aside if it is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law." The recent Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron has invited much...
July 19, 2024

EPA Releases Draft Risk Evaluation for 1,1-Dichloroethane and Draft Hazard Assessment of 1,2-Dichloroethane for Public Comment and Peer Review

On July 1, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of the draft risk evaluation for 1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCE) and the draft human health hazard assessment supporting the draft risk evaluation for 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE, also known as ethylene dichloride) prepared under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that it “preliminarily determined 1,1-dichloroethane poses unreasonable risk to human health (of workers) and the environment.”...
July 19, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted in Chemical Processing Article “What Ditching The Chevron Deference Means for the Chemical Industry”

On July 19, 2024, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson were featured in Chemical Processing’s article on what the Supreme Court ruling that overturned the landmark 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) means for the chemical industry. But not all influence is lost, according to Lynn Bergeson, Chemical Processing’s compliance columnist and managing director at Bergeson & Campbell. She and co-author Kelly N. Garson address several questions...
July 17, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson, “What the EPA’s ban on ongoing use of asbestos tells us,” Speciality Chemicals Magazine, July/August 2024.

On 28 March, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its long-awaited first final risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Acta (TSCA), banning the import and eventual use of chrysotile asbestos. This is the only form of asbestos known to be used in the US. You may be thinking now that because your company does not import or use asbestos, this does not affect you. You should care about it because the EPA's approach to the risk management of chrysotile asbestos has much...
July 16, 2024

EPA Grants TSCA Section 21 Petition Seeking Section 6 Rule Prohibiting Three PFAS Found in Fluorinated Plastic Containers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 11, 2024, that it granted a petition filed under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requesting that EPA establish regulations under TSCA Section 6 prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, use, distribution in commerce, and disposal of three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) formed during the fluorination of plastic containers. EPA “will promptly commence an appropriate proceeding under TSCA Section...
July 12, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Managing risk: what the EPA’s TSCA chemical use bans tell us,” Financier Worldwide, August 2024.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued final risk management rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) banning certain uses of two chemicals: chrysotile asbestos and methylene chloride. The identity of these two chemicals is less important than the process by which the EPA concluded that the banned uses of these chemicals pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment, and the nature and intrusiveness of the workplace and other restrictions the EPA...
July 9, 2024

TSCA Reform — Eight Years Later: B&C, ELI, and GWU Conclude Best Available Conference

On June 26, 2024, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University (GWU) Milken Institute School of Public Health presented “TSCA Reform -- Eight Years Later.” This hybrid conference marked the eighth Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Annual Conference, reflecting on the accomplishments and challenges since the implementation of the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act) and...
July 9, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted in Bloomberg Law Article “Supreme Court Rulings Boost Odds to Win Chemical Rule Challenges”

On July 9, 2024, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson were featured in Bloomberg Law’s article on the Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright Enters. v. Raimondo, overturning the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine. Post-Chevron litigation will be interesting, said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner for Bergeson & Campbell PC, which helps companies navigate chemical regulations. “Challengers have a higher potential success on the merits of their arguments.” “We might get favorable...
July 3, 2024

Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted in Chemical Watch Article “US Supreme Court curtails regulatory powers of agencies like the EPA”

On July 3, 2024, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson were featured in Chemical Watch's article on the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn a 40-year-old legal precedent that directed courts to defer to reasonable agency interpretations of the law, throwing into question the authority of agencies like the EPA to craft and defend certain regulations. "This may be a case of be careful what you wish for," said Lynn Bergeson, managing partner at Bergeson & Campbell. "Chemical laws like TSCA are...
June 27, 2024

Recording Available for “There Is More to TSCA Reporting Than CDR: TSCA Sections 8(a), (c), (d), and (e)” Webinar, Featuring Dave Turk and Stephanie Griffin from EPA OPPT

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) June 18, 2024, webinar, "There Is More to TSCA Reporting Than CDR: TSCA Sections 8(a), (c), (d), and (e)," is now available for on-demand viewing. During this one-hour webinar Dave Turk, Supervisor for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Regulatory and Policy Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT); Stephanie Griffin, Acting Supervisor of the Data Collection Branch, EPA OPPT; Richard E....