Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are attracting global legal, regulatory, commercial, and litigation attention as no other “emerging contaminant” has. Companies producing, processing, distributing, and/or using these substances must be aware of global legal and scientific developments and take steps now to minimize legal, regulatory, and commercial risk. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and its global consulting affiliate The Acta Group (Acta®) have prepared...
On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) held a webinar on “Reducing PFAS in Products: Progress and Challenges.” The webinar was the third in EPA’s series on “Pollution Prevention in Action.” Jennie Romer, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention, hosts webinars featuring businesses, Pollution Prevention grantees, and other experts about innovations and successes in implementing...
May 17, 2024
EPA Bans Most Uses of Methylene Chloride, Requires Stronger Worker Safety Requirements for Remaining Industrial Uses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued on May 8, 2024, a final rule to address unreasonable risks of injury to health EPA identified caused by methylene chloride under its conditions of use (COU). 89 Fed. Reg. 39254. According to EPA, the final rule will prevent serious illness and death associated with uncontrolled exposures to methylene chloride by preventing consumer access methylene chloride and by restricting the industrial and commercial use of methylene chloride while...
May 17, 2024
EPA Announces New Resource Portal and Reporting Tool Improvements Before CDR Reporting Begins on June 1, 2024
The Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule requires manufacturers (including importers) to report data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every four years. The 2024 submission period will begin June 1, 2024, and end September 30, 2024. On May 16, 2024, EPA announced the creation of CDR GuideME, a new resource portal, and improvements to the reporting tool to make the reporting process easier. Data that must be reported include information concerning the manufacturing, processing,...
On May 3, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it received an application from Bayer CropScience LP for a new product containing the currently registered active ingredient dicamba. The proposed product includes use of dicamba on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. EPA is announcing a 30-day public comment period consistent with Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 3(c)(4) because the proposed product involves a new use pattern for...
Chemical Watch’s “TSCA Fundamentals” course, taught by Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), will provide in-depth training on the very latest Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulatory and policy developments, their impact, and how to anticipate their requirements, comply with the law, and remain commercially competitive. Chemical Watch will offer a 15% discount for B&C clients and friends. To redeem this discount, please...
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) has been using its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8 authorities in new and different ways. These TSCA reporting obligations have been of interest to stakeholders, raising many good questions and interest in understanding why EPA is seeking information, how it relies upon the information it receives, and what is in scope under the various reporting obligations. We here at Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) think it is...
TSCA/FIFRA/TRI EPA Issues Asbestos Part 2 Draft Risk Evaluation, Preliminarily Determines That Asbestos Poses Unreasonable Risk To Human Health: On April 16, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and requested...
By Barbara A. Christianson On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will hold a virtual public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) on June 5 and June 6, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EDT). The meeting is open to the public, but registration to attend is required. Register to attend the meeting by May 29, 2024.To provide comments during the meeting, request special accommodations, or receive...
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,...