April 20, 2015

DTSC Releases Final Priority Product Work Plan

On April 16, 2015, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released its much anticipated Final Priority Product Work Plan under the Safer Consumer Products Regulations. The Work Plan, initially proposed on September 12, 2014, describes product categories it will use to evaluate and identify product-chemical combinations to be added to the Priority Products. The purpose of the Work Plan is to provide a "level of predictability to potential manufacturers, importers, retailers,...
April 14, 2015

TSCA Reform:  House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on TSCA Modernization Act

On April 14, 2015, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing on the discussion draft of the TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 (TMA DD) introduced by Subcommittee Chair John Shimkus (R-IL) on April 7, 2015. As noted in our April 9, 2015, memorandum, "Shimkus Releases Discussion Draft of TSCA Reform Legislation," in the previous Congress, Shimkus introduced first a discussion draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA1), and then a revised...
April 13, 2015

Stewardship 2015 Presents Vital Program for Product Stewardship Professionals

Lynn L. Bergeson Joins Product Stewardship Society Board of Directors Stewardship 2015, June 1-3, 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah, is the only national conference dedicated to educating and equipping product stewards, industrial hygienists, environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals, and others involved in the day-to-day work of product stewardship. Stewardship 2015 is co-located with AIHce2015, the premiere conference and exposition for occupational and EHS...
April 9, 2015

TSCA Reform:  Shimkus Releases Discussion Draft of TSCA Reform Legislation

On April 7, 2015, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, released a Discussion Draft of the "TSCA Modernization Act of 2015" (TMA DD). In the previous Congress, Shimkus introduced first a discussion draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA1), and then a revised discussion draft of the bill, CICA2. In addition, Shimkus held "countless" hearings concerning reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act...
April 8, 2015

K-REACH: List of Priority Existing Substances Submitted for Consultation

On April 1, 2015, the Korean Ministry of Environment submitted the list of priority existing substances for consultation in accordance with Article 9 of Korea's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (K-REACH) regulation. The list identifies in Korean and English 518 phase-in (existing) substances that are considered a priority and thus part of the first phase of registration under K-REACH. The deadline for submitting comments is April 30,...
April 8, 2015

TSCA: EPA Opens Docket for Proposed TSCA Section 8(a) Rule for Nanomaterials

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,...
April 7, 2015

BNA Daily Environment Report Coverage of Science & the Congress Briefing Quotes Lynn L. Bergeson

The April 7, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report story "Innovation Outpacing Regulatory Systems; Modernized TSCA, New Data Said to Help," reported on "21st Century Understanding of Chemicals," a congressional briefing hosted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Science & the Congress Project.  Lynn L. Bergeson’s comments at the congressional briefing were quoted.   The Environmental Protection Agency has taken eight times longer to approve new...
April 7, 2015

Oil Price Information Network Features Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., in “TSCA Nomenclature May be Barrier for Advanced Biofuels”

The Oil Price Information Network (OPIS) spoke with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. , Senior Policy Advisor for Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and The Acta Group, 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 in the OPIS Ethanol & Biodiesel Newsletter is reprinted below, with permission from OPIS. TSCA Nomenclature May Be...
April 6, 2015

TSCA: EPA Proposes Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Nanoscale Materials

On April 6, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when manufactured (including imported) or processed at the nanoscale. 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 volume, methods...
April 5, 2015

House Bill Would Block EPA From Vetoing Dredge And Fill Permits Issued By Army Corps Of Engineers, and Other Recent CWA Developments

House Bill Would Block EPA From Vetoing Dredge And Fill Permits Issued By Army Corps Of Engineers: On March 3, 2015, West Virginia's entire House of Representatives delegation re-introduced a bill that is intended "to stop the federal Environmental Protection Agency's unprecedented overreach," according to the bill's sponsor, David McKinley (R-WV). The bill (H.R. 1203) would amend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to revoke permits issued...