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A critical element of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution (Strategy) is to “improve post-use materials management.”  The Strategy identifies potential voluntary actions EPA believes can be implemented to prevent plastic waste. Plastics recycling, both mechanical and “advanced,” is core to achieving improved post-use plastics materials management. Post-use plastics management, in turn, is core to achieving circularity....

On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a plan to update, streamline, and clarify their regulations and oversight mechanisms for products of biotechnology. The Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology: Plan for Regulatory Reform under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (the Plan) provides a roadmap for actions the agencies will take,...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule on April 23, 2024, that amends the procedural framework rule for conducting risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to the final rule, published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2024, EPA reconsidered the procedural framework rule for conducting such risk evaluations and is revising certain aspects of that framework to align better with the statutory text and applicable court decisions,...

On April 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested comment on proposed consent decrees that would address lawsuits filed by the Community In-Power and Development Association Inc. (CIDA), Learning Disabilities Association of America, Louisiana Environmental Action Network, Sierra Club, and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (CIDA Plaintiffs) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on September 18, 2023, CIDA v. EPA, Case No. 1:23-cv-02715 (the...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued on April 26, 2024, the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 89 Fed. Reg. 32532. The NPDWR establishes Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for six PFAS in drinking water: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) as contaminants...

The May 2, 2024, ECHA Weekly includes an item on the June 3-6, 2024, meeting of the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and June 4-7, 2024, meeting of ECHA’s Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC). ECHA states that the plenary meetings will address the following topics concerning the universal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  (PFAS) restriction proposal: ECHA notes that additionally, RAC and SEAC will discuss pending issues from the previous...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 9, 2024, the release of an updated “Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.” According to EPA, the updated guidance “reflects the latest, best available science to provide information that managers of [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)] wastes can use to evaluate the most appropriate...

On April 16, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and requested public comment on a draft document titled “Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos” (the Draft Asbestos Part 2). 89 Fed. Reg. 26878. EPA is evaluating legacy uses and associated disposals of asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos, five additional fiber types, asbestos-containing talc, and Libby...

On April 22, 2024, the European Commission (EC) announced that it adopted a “Communication from the Commission: Guiding criteria and principles for the essential use concept in EU legislation dealing with chemicals.” The press release states that “[t]he overall aim of this concept is to achieve higher regulatory efficiency and predictability for authorities, investors and industry for a faster phase-out of the most harmful substances in non-essential uses, while allowing more time for the...

On April 15, 2024, Germany’s Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) REACH-CLP-Biozid Helpdesk published an item entitled “Dossier Submitter’s ongoing role in the PFAS restriction proposal.” While the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) evaluate the restriction proposal, the five national authorities that prepared the proposal (the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) are...