Earlier this week, U.S. EPA released the agency’s 2020 TRI National Assessment Report, which includes data from first-time reports filed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In releasing the report, EPA indicated that it was concerned by “the seemingly limited
Continue Reading EPA Releases 2020 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data, Plans to Eliminate De Minimis Exemption for PFAS
Chemicals
The Prop 65 Pandemic: No Covid Slow-Down for Enforcement
By Joseph J. Green on
While the Covid-19 pandemic caused all sorts of disruptions to society and the economy, at least one area of business has thrived over the last two years: private plaintiff enforcement of California Proposition 65. In 2020-2021, over 40% more Prop…
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EPA “Fenceline Communities Screening Strategy” Aims to Advance Environmental Justice Agenda
By Joseph J. Green on
EPA released this past Friday the agency’s draft strategy for examining health and environmental risks in communities that reside near facilities that emit chemicals undergoing TSCA review. The “fenceline communities screening strategy” is an initial and explicit injection of “environmental…
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California Tweaks Proposed Revisions to Limit Use of Prop 65 “Short Form” Warnings (Updated)
By Joseph J. Green on
Almost a year after initially proposing revisions that would substantially curtail use of the popular “short form” warnings under Proposition 65 (see my prior blog post for more details), the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has…
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EPA Proposes Extension Until 2024 for Compliance with Problematic PBT Rule
By Joseph J. Green on
As the U.S. EPA embarks on a full review of regulations addressing the sale, distribution and use of five “persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic” (PBT) substances, the agency already is proposing to extend until 2024 the compliance date with the existing…
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FDA Considers Petition to Ban PFAS Food Uses, As Companies Move Toward Phase-Out
By Joseph J. Green on
A coalition of environmental, food safety, and consumer health advocacy groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday to ban per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from food contact uses, and to “take aggressive action to protect consumers from…
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EPA Expands List of PFAS Subject to TRI Reporting
By Joseph J. Green on
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding three per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of substances reportable under the agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting program. Consistent with a recently leaked document highlighting priorities of the Office of Pollution …
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EPA Considering Expanded TSCA CDR and TRI Reporting Requirements, Environmental Justice Analyses
By Joseph J. Green on
The new 2021-2023 strategic plan of the U.S. EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) floats a series of potential expanded reporting requirements under the agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) and Environmental Protection and…
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EPA Grants Temporary Reprieve to TSCA PBT Chemical Prohibition, Re-Opens Comment Period
By Joseph J. Green on
Facing a massive uproar from industry groups and companies, late yesterday EPA put a hold on enforcement of a newly effective prohibition on one “PBT” chemical and announced a new comment period to re-examine the rules issued on January 6,…
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EPA Extends TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Deadline to January 29
By Joseph J. Green on
Citing difficulties experienced by numerous submitters using EPA’s online reporting portal, the agency has extended the TSCA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) deadline for two months.
The CDR rule requires manufacturers (including importers) of chemical substances listed on the TSCA Chemical…
Continue Reading EPA Extends TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Deadline to January 29