The Acta Gruop (Acta®) affiliate Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health are pleased to present “TSCA Reform – Six Years Later.” This complimentary virtual conference marks the sixth Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Annual Conference, reflecting on the accomplishments and challenges since the implementation of the 2016 Lautenberg Amendments and where TSCA stands today. Speakers will dive into a host of topics, including the interface of science and policy under TSCA, new chemicals, risk evaluation and management, the regulation of articles, and more. Register online.
Full Agenda (subject to change):
9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Welcome and Overview of Virtual Forum |
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Morning Keynote Discussion Michal Ilana Freedhoff, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Panel 1: The Interface of Science and Policy under TSCA This panel will examine key issues at the interface of science and policy under TSCA, including the continuing role of animal studies in supporting risk evaluations, the potential use of New Approach Methodologies (NAM) to inform safety determinations for new and existing chemicals, scientific integrity and the TSCA program, methodologies for systematic review, and more. Moderated by James J. Jones, President, J. Jones Environmental |
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Panel 2: New Chemical Review The TSCA New Chemicals Program was strengthened in the 2016 Lautenberg Amendments and what the law requires has been vigorously debated. This panel will discuss opportunities for transparency, processes to guide new chemical review, new approaches to assess chemical risks, protection of workers, use of Significant New Use Rules (SNUR) and Section 5(e) orders, and more. Moderated by Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P. |
1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Panel 3: Risk Evaluation and Management With the “first 10” evaluations completed, this panel will look back at the lessons learned and areas for improvement; discuss EPA efforts to enhance these evaluations through risk determinations for fenceline communities, revised worker protection assumptions, and the “whole chemical approach”; examine the asbestos risk management proposal and other emerging risk management approaches; evaluate the impact of resource constraints on meeting statutory deadlines; discuss the role of environmental justice considerations; and more. Moderated by Robert M. Sussman, Principal, Sussman & Associates |
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Panel 4: TSCA Regulation of Articles TSCA requirements can apply to “articles,” a manufactured good or finished product. This panel will discuss the potential role of articles as contributors to health and environmental concerns, EPA’s push to remove traditional exemptions of articles and resulting compliance and implementation challenges, potential new rules for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and asbestos requiring reporting on articles, and the application of SNURs and risk management rules to articles, and more. Moderated by Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell P.C. |
5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. | Concluding Remarks and Adjournment |
Join B&C, ELI, the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, leading experts, and distinguished keynote speakers for a robust exploration of the issues and regulations surrounding TSCA. Full program and registration available online.
Materials from the 2021 conference are available at https://www.lawbc.com/news/recording-of-tsca-reform-five-years-later-conference-and-other-resources-a