Memoranda

The State Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) Pesticide Operations and Management (POM) Committee held a meeting on September 20, 2010. During the meeting, Jennifer McLain, Associate Director of the Antimicrobials Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), provided an update on EPA's regulation of pesticides containing nanoscale materials. McLain's slides are available online. Much...

On September 22, 2010, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (CDTSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public workshop on state and federal nanomaterial activities. During the workshop, CDTSC and EPA discussed the results of California's data call-in (DCI) for carbon nanotubes (CNT), its plans for future DCIs, and EPA's efforts related to CNTs. More information, including the meeting presentations, is available online. The candidate chemicals for...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and the American Chemistry Council are hosting a free webinar on recent proposed changes to the TSCA Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) obligations on September 28, 2010. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview of the proposed changes, this webinar will also focus on past industry efforts in reporting use and exposure information on Form U, Part III in an effort to assist those companies new to such reporting requirements....

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (CDTSC) has released its proposed regulations for safer consumer product alternatives. Under the proposed regulations, CDTSC would create a list of chemicals that it deems toxic and believes could harm people or the environment. CDTSC would prioritize products containing those chemicals based upon such factors as the volume in commerce, the extent of public exposure, and how the product is eventually disposed. Manufacturers of those products...

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice seeking individual stakeholder input regarding EPA's role in the "green" or sustainable products movement. 75 Fed. Reg. 56528. EPA will consider the information gathered from the notice and other sources as it works to define its role and develop a strategy that identifies how EPA "can make a meaningful contribution to the development, manufacture, designation, and use of sustainable...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed on August 13, 2010, that it will conditionally register a pesticide product containing nanosilver as an active ingredient. According to EPA, the nanosilver active ingredient is intended for use as a preservative in textile products, including those made from natural and synthetic fibers and which are used to manufacture indoor use articles such as sheets, blankets, towels, napkins, outerwear, sportswear, sleepwear, undergarments, socks and...

On August 24, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a proposed rule seeking to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) with international standards. 75 Fed. Reg. 52069. The proposal revises several proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. PHMSA states that these revisions are...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. is hosting a webinar on TSCA Reform Legislative Initiatives on September 22, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. (EDT). This webinar will focus on recent developments and as such builds on the May 22, 2010, webinar, which focused on developments to that time. Please save the date -- details will be sent under separate cover....

On August 18, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced action plans for benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE). According to EPA, the chemicals are widely used in both consumer and industrial applications, including as dyes, flame retardants, and industrial laundry detergents, respectively. The action plans identify a range of actions EPA is considering under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as well as...

On August 13, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) Modifications Rule. 75 Fed. Reg. 49655. As highlighted below, the proposal includes important changes to the IUR reporting obligations that will have a significant impact on industry. These include, among others, requiring process and use information for substances over 25,000 pounds, requiring electronic submission of IUR reports; replacing the "readily obtainable" reporting...