February 23, 2010

OIG Report Concludes EPA Needs Coordinated Plan to Oversee Its TSCA Responsibilities

On February 18, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report entitled EPA Needs a Coordinated Plan to Oversee Its Toxic Substances Control Act Responsibilities, urging EPA to coordinate better risk assessment and oversight activities by establishing a management plan that contains new goals and measures that demonstrate the results of Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and Office of Enforcement and Compliance...
February 22, 2010

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. to Participate in ABA Quick Teleconference on Endocrine Disruptors

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) is pleased to announce it will moderate and participate in an American Bar Association Quick Teleconference entitled "Endocrine Disruptors: The Art, Law, and Science of Responding to Testing Orders," on March 3, 2010, at 12:00 p.m. (EST). Speakers include: James V. Aidala, B&C; David Berol, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); James C. Lamb, Ph.D., Exponent; and Robert G. Perlis, EPA. Register for the teleconference online....
February 22, 2010

EPA Proposes Amendments to TSCA Section 4 Enforceable Consent Agreement Procedures

On February 19, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed important revisions to the procedures for development of enforceable consent agreements (ECA) to generate test data under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 75 Fed. Reg. 7428 (Feb. 19, 2010). The proposed rule includes some sweeping changes for when and how negotiations will be initiated, conducted, and concluded, and limits the timeframe within which these activities will take place. Companies that...
February 18, 2010

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. is a Proud Sponsor of the 2010 Global Chemical Regulations Conference

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates’ (SOCMA) Global Chemical Regulations Conference and Exhibition being held in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 29-31, 2010. For more than 20 years, the Global Chemical Regulations Conference has provided a unique educational opportunity for chemical industry professionals. Participation in this conference provides attendees with...
February 18, 2010

Nanoparticles Block UV Rays and Stop Mold, but “the Environment Is the Guinea Pig”

In a February 18, 2010, Politics Daily article, Lynn L. Bergeson commented on regulations being developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would increase reporting of nanomaterial products. Bergeson stated that she expects EPA to propose that businesses provide data only for new products, and that those on the market would be grandfathered in....
February 8, 2010

EPA SAP Releases Report on Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Pesticide Products

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) has released the minutes of its November 3-5, 2009, meeting regarding evaluation of the hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products. Before summarizing the SAP's primary conclusions and recommendations, we note a few general observations. First, the SAP final recommendations address nanosilver almost entirely, and little or no mention is made of "nanometal pesticide products."...
February 4, 2010

Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing Regarding Current Science on Public Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Today the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a hearing entitled "Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals." Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, criticized the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for failing to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the necessary authority to protect the public from unsafe chemicals. Lautenberg stated that he intends to introduce...
January 28, 2010

EPA Announces Intent to Issue Cancellation Order for Spirotetramat

On January 26, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) announced that it intends to issue a cancellation order for the pesticide spirotetramat pursuant to Section 6(a)(1) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). A comment period is now open on the existing stocks provisions of the planned cancellation order. Comments are due February 8, 2010. EPA states that, on December 23, 2009, the U.S. District...
January 27, 2010

Final Rule Amends PMN Exemption for Polymers

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final rule amending the polymer exemption rule, which provides an exemption from the premanufacture notification (PMN) requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The amendment excludes from eligibility polymers containing as an integral part of their composition, except as impurities, certain perfluoroalkyl moieties consisting of a CF3- or longer chain length. This exclusion includes polymers that contain any one or...