April 1, 2014

Proposition 65: OEHHA Releases Pre-Regulatory Proposal for Revised Proposition 65 Warning Regulations

On March 7, 2014, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a pre-regulatory proposal for a potential draft regulation amending Proposition 65 regulations. Significantly -- and likely controversially -- the proposal seeks changes to the warning requirements to require more detailed information, including the names of the chemicals covered by individual warnings, the ways that individuals are exposed to these chemicals, and how individuals can avoid or reduce their...
March 27, 2014

California Regulators Optimistic About Prevailing on Priority Products

Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted in a Chemical Watch article regarding the priority products listed in March under California’s Safer Consumer Products Regulations (SCPR): “Spray polyurethane foam products containing unreacted diisocyanates are different in an important aspect. Spray foams are primarily used in the construction industry by smaller and mid-sized companies represented by a wide range of small trade associations, said Lynn...
March 27, 2014

Leslie S. MacDougall to Speak at European and Asian Chemical Regulatory Conferences in April

Leslie S. MacDougall, Director of Regulatory Affairs for The Acta Group (Acta), has been invited to speak at ChemCon Europe 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey, and the International Conference on Chemical Policy (ICCP) 2014 in Seoul, South Korea. ChemCon, a global platform that brings together more than 400 companies, governmental authorities, and international organizations in the field of international chemical control, is holding its 2014 European meeting March 31 - April 4, 2014, in Istanbul. Ms....
March 26, 2014

Manufacturers Urge EPA to Apply TSCA Consistently in Final Rules for Six Mixtures

Kathleen M. Roberts was quoted in an article in Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report titled “Manufacturers Urge EPA to Apply TSCA Consistently in Final Rules for Six Mixtures.” “Chemical manufacturers are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to apply Toxic Substances Control Act policies consistently to both biobased and petroleum-based chemical mixtures as it finalizes a proposed rule that would restrict uses of six chemicals designed for...
March 18, 2014

Draft List of Products Will Test California’s Safer Consumer Products Program, Markets

Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted in a Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report article, “Draft List of Products Will Test California’s Safer Consumer Products Program, Markets.“   “Draft Could Trigger Litigation. The draft list could trigger litigation challenging the regulations, the listed products or even DTSC’s implementation of the program rules, Washington D.C.-based attorney Lynn Bergeson of Bergeson & Campbell told Bloomberg BNA March...
March 14, 2014

James V. Aidala Delivers Address on Newsworthy Topics in Pesticide Regulatory Policy

James V. Aidala, Senior Government Consultant at Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), delivered the keynote address at the Spring Board Meeting of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials held in Arlington, Virginia, on March 10, 2014. His presentation gave background, analysis, and commentary on the most newsworthy issues in pesticide regulatory policy today, including possible impact on pollinators, spray drift, and bystander risk; the difficulty of communicating science...
March 13, 2014

California Announces First Draft Priority Products under Safer Consumer Products Regulations

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced on March 13, 2014, the first draft Priority Products (PP) under the Safer Consumer Products Regulations (SCPR). The three draft PPs are: Children's foam-padded sleeping products containing tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP);  Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) systems containing unreacted diisocyanates; and  Paint and varnish strippers and surface cleaners containing methylene chloride. DTSC states that the...
March 12, 2014

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Draft TSCA Reform Legislation

On March 12, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing focused on the discussion draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA). On February 27, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the Subcommittee, released a much anticipated discussion draft that would update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The March 12 hearing was intended to provide the Subcommittee an opportunity to review the provisions of CICA. An analysis of the...
March 4, 2014

Lynn L. Bergeson Quoted in Bloomberg BNA Special Report on Elk River Spill

Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted in a Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report special report, “Elk River Provides Tangible Illustration of Deficiencies in Public Data on Chemicals:” “Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., said that despite the many problems West Virginia’s ‘entirely preventable tragic spill’ has spotlighted, it is unlikely to hasten TSCA reform. ‘There are dozens of compelling reasons to reform TSCA, any...
March 4, 2014

Shimkus Releases Discussion Draft of TSCA Reform Legislation

On February 27, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, released a much anticipated discussion draft that would update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to Shimkus' press release, the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA) "keys off" S. 1009, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), which was introduced on May 22, 2013, by the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator David Vitter...