Category: General

April 1, 2020

EPA Publishes Draft Risk Evaluation of Asbestos, Will Hold Virtual Peer Review Meeting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the draft risk evaluation of asbestos on March 30, 2020. EPA will publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register, beginning a 60-day comment period. EPA will hold a virtual peer review meeting of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) on the draft risk evaluation April 27-30, 2020. The virtual peer review meeting is open to the public to attend and provide...
April 1, 2020

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Chemical Importers are on the Hook for TSCA Risk Evaluation Fees,” Elements, the Magazine of Chemicals Northwest, Spring 2020.

Is your company potentially liable for a share of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) $1,350,000 fee for developing a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation? This is a hot topic these days, given EPA’s notice dated January 27, 2020, identifying the “preliminary lists” of manufacturers, including importers, of the 20 chemical substances that EPA has designated as “high-priority” substances for risk evaluation and for which fees will be charged. Stakeholders are...
March 31, 2020

EPA Publishes 2020 Mercury Inventory Report, Enhancing Transparency of Data

On March 30, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the 2020 Mercury Inventory Report on the supply, use, and trade of mercury in the United States. The report presents aggregated data submitted on imported mercury, mercury manufactured in the United States, imported mercury-added products, mercury-added products made in the United States, and mercury used in manufacturing processes. The inventory report also provides a broad view of U.S. mercury stored, sold,...
March 27, 2020

India Announces Fourth Draft Chemicals (Management and Safety) Rules

India released the fourth draft Chemicals (Management and Safety) Rules to select groups on March 16, 2020. This fourth draft is believed to be the final draft, despite assurances in February that the third draft was the final draft. The government is accepting comments until March 31, 2020. The draft Rules include significant revisions to the list of priority substances that are subject to importation notifications, and hazard communication obligations...
March 25, 2020

Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted in Bloomberg Environment Article “Auto, Other Importers to Get Chemical Fees Break, EPA Says”

On March 25, 2020, Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) was quoted by Bloomberg Environment in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to not go after certain companies that failed to identify themselves to help pay a portion of the chemical risk evaluation fee imposed by a Toxic Substances Control Act fee rule issued in October 2018. The exempted companies include those that import products such as...
March 23, 2020

Comments by Lynn L. Bergeson Featured in Bloomberg Environment Article “EPA Ruling Could Allow Controversial Nanoparticles in Pesticides”

On March 23, 2020, comments by Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) were featured by Bloomberg Environment regarding a proposed registration for Polyguard, which uses nanosilver particles to protect textiles from microbes and bacteria. Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell P.C., said Polyguard’s registration application is much more targeted, for use only on textiles. “It’s also formulated differently,...
March 23, 2020

NGOs File Suit against EPA for Failing to Disclose Information about New Chemical Substances

On March 18, 2020, a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGO) filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), claiming that EPA fails to disclose information about new chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to the plaintiffs’ complaint, EPA fails to publish full and complete notices of its receipt of new chemical applications in a timely fashion and does not disclose...
March 19, 2020

EPA Releases Final Amendments to CDR Rule, Extends Reporting Period

On March 17, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a final rule amending the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule. According to EPA, the amendments are intended to reduce the burden for certain CDR reporters, improve the quality of CDR data collected, and align reporting requirements with the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act’s (Lautenberg Act) amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that...
March 18, 2020

Comments by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Featured in Bloomberg Environment Article “Groups Say EPA’s Withholding New Chemicals Data From Public”

On March 18, 2020, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), was quoted by Bloomberg Environment regarding a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saying the agency failed to provide information about chemical use and new chemicals to which the public is legally entitled. “I do not question the plaintiffs’ goals—EPA has a clear obligation and should re-commit to meeting those...
March 18, 2020

Comments by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Featured in Bloomberg Environment Article “Groups Say EPA’s Withholding New Chemicals Data From Public”

On March 18, 2020, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), was quoted by Bloomberg Environment regarding a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saying the agency failed to provide information about chemical use and new chemicals to which the public is legally entitled. “I do not question the plaintiffs’ goals—EPA has a clear obligation and should re-commit to meeting those...