News & Events

On December 21, 2018, Bloomberg Environment featured comments by Christopher R. Bryant, Senior Regulatory Specialist, The Acta Group (Acta®), regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to update coal ash disposal requirements. The changes are consistent with the agency’s preference for states to take the lead on setting their own disposal requirements, Christopher Bryant, senior regulatory consultant for Bergeson & Campbell PC in Washington,...

On December 20, 2018, Bloomberg Environment spoke with Lynn L. Bergeson, President, The Acta Group (Acta®), for the article “‘Calamitous’ Harm Possible for EPA Chemical Program in Shutdown.” Shutting the government down could have particularly severe effects on the EPA’s oversight of chemicals in commerce and further delay the entry of new chemicals onto the market, two attorneys specializing in chemical policy told Bloomberg Environment. “If a shutdown were...

On December 19, 2018, Bloomberg Environment spoke with Lynn L. Bergeson, President, The Acta Group (Acta®), for the article “2019 Outlook: ‘Most Active Year Yet’ Looms on EPA Chemical Rules.” The EPA didn’t reply to a question about how many people are working in its chemicals office but said it was allowed to hire up to 340 in fiscal year 2018, an increase from 311 in the previous year. The agency said it couldn’t comment on how many people it will have in...

On November 28, 2018, Inside EPA included information on Lek Kadeli’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appointment first posted in Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) TSCAblogTM post “EPA Announces New Acting Deputy AA at OCSPP.” Lek Kadeli, a top former EPA career official in the research office (ORD), is joining the management team for EPA's toxics office, bolstering the office as it ramps up to implement the revised Toxic Substances Control...

On November 26, 2018, Inside EPA included information from Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) memorandum “EPA Publishes First Draft TSCA Chemical Risk Evaluation” in the article “EPA's PV29 Assessment Likely to Test Reformed TSCA's Data Standards.” In a Nov. 16 memo on the draft's release, the law firm Bergeson and Campbell suggests that there may be little reason to challenge the agency's finding though it leaves the door open to questioning the...

On November 14, 2018, Inside EPA spoke with Christopher R. Bryant, Senior Regulatory Specialist, The Acta Group (Acta®), for the article “EPA Eases RCRA For Airbag Removals But Keeps Hazardous Waste Status.” [W]hile dealers and others removing the airbags will be conditionally exempt under the new rule, others further down the waste stream will not, says Chris Bryant, a former EPA waste official who is now a senior regulatory consultant with Bergeson and...

On November 13, 2018, Charles M. Auer, Senior Regulatory and Policy Advisor, The Acta Group (Acta®), was quoted by Inside EPA regarding Congress’ plan to oversee the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementation of the revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). “There may be some bipartisan oversight on nuts and bolts questions. But my guess is that each side will generally focus questions on 'their' issues and concerns,” says Charles Auer, a...

On November 12, 2018, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry for The Acta Group (Acta®), was featured on National Public Radio’s (NPR) morning news program “Morning Edition” during a segment on the chemical methylene chloride.  Reporter Rebecca Hersher asked Dr. Engler, a 17-year veteran of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and leader of EPA's Green Chemistry Program, about EPA’s review of methylene chloride and...

On November 6, 2018, Bloomberg Environment quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, The Acta Group (Acta®), regarding new chemical rules. Before 2016, the EPA took regulatory action on 10-15 percent of new chemicals, clearing the way for 85-90 percent of new compounds to proceed without restrictions, Richard Engler, Bergeson and Campbell PC’s director of chemistry, said. But since the amendments to the nation’s primary chemicals law passed in June...

On November 5, 2018, Bloomberg Environment quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, The Acta Group (Acta®), in the article “More Sales, Broader Safeguards May Follow Chemical Rule Deluge.” The rules broaden sales opportunities for both the companies that designed these chemicals and ones that want to make or use them, Richard Engler, who was a chemist at the Environmental Protection Agency for 17 years, told Bloomberg Environment. […] The EPA’s...

Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2018):  Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is launching a podcast today.  It is called All Things Chemical™ and it will engage listeners in intelligent, insightful conversation about everything related to industrial, pesticidal, and specialty chemicals and the law and business issues surrounding chemicals. B&C’s talented team of lawyers, scientists, and consultants will keep listeners abreast of the changing world of both...

On October 17, 2018, The Acta Group (Acta®) affiliate Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) presented a complimentary webinar regarding pending implementation dates of key U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules. “Keeping up with FSMA – Rules, Obligations, and Key Compliance Dates” was presented by Karin F. Baron, MSPH, Senior Regulatory Consultant, B&C, Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, B&C, and Scott J. Burya,...

On October 18, 2018, Inside EPA quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, The Acta Group (Acta®), regarding Acta affiliate Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s (B&C®) memorandum “EPA Proposes SNURs that Break New Ground under Amended TSCA.” Industry attorneys are welcoming the agency's approach, suggesting it sets a precedent for future agency action. “The proposed SNUR is interesting, important, and controversial, as this is the first time under...

On October 16, 2018, Inside EPA quoted The Acta Group (Acta®) affiliate Bergeson & Campbell P.C.'s (B&C®) memorandum “EPA Issues Final TSCA Fees Rule” in the article “EPA finalizes TSCA fees rule but legal challenges possible.” A Sept. 28 memo from the law firm Bergeson & Campbell notes that “the final rule will apply to all submissions that are received starting October 1, 2018. EPA stated that it will invoice affected companies within...

Now more than ever, chemical industry stakeholders with shared business and advocacy interests are urged to consider collaborating on regulatory, testing, and related advocacy opportunities. Two years post-passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is well underway with implementation of the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).    Industry groups that are already established and...

On October 8, 2018, Lynn L. Bergeson, President, (The Acta Group®), moderated “Sustainable Investment in Agriculture: Improving Agricultural Land Investment Contracts and the Contracting Process” at the legal profession’s largest international event, the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference held this year in Rome, Italy. Ms. Bergeson is Vice Chairman of IBA’s Agricultural Law Committee. Panelists Katherine Cook, Matrix Chambers; Marsha A Echols, Howard...

On September 29, 2018, Lynn L. Bergeson, President, The Acta Group (Acta®), and President-Elect of the Product Stewardship Society (PSS) moderated the closing session, “Drivers of Product Stewardship: The Role of Regulations, Private Governance, and Managing,” at the 2018 Product Stewardship Conference in Washington D.C. This conference addressed global safety, environmental, and regulatory challenges by bringing together prominent professionals to present and discuss global emerging...

On September 24, 2018, Bloomberg Environment quoted Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, The Acta Group (Acta®), regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to expand the list of fluorochemicals on the ChemView database. Companies making new fluorochemicals had to generate more than $25 million worth of health, environmental fate, degradation data, and other information under agreements they made, the agency told Bloomberg Environment in...

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (EDT)  Complimentary Registration Available Online  Speakers: ■ Karin F. Baron, MSPHSenior Regulatory Consultant, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®)■ Lynn L. BergesonManaging Partner, B&C; President, Acta■ Scott J. Burya, Ph.D.Regulatory...

On September 18, 2018, The Acta Group (Acta®) affiliate Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and Bloomberg BNA presented “TSCA Confidential Business Information and Generic Naming: Analyzing the New Rules,” the fourth webinar in the 2018 Chemical Policy Summit Series. The presenters noted that protecting confidential business information (CBI), including chemical identity, has never been easy but remains an essential component of a successful commercial chemical...