The U.S. EPA announced today proposed amendments to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule with an aim “to better support Agency data collection efforts, align reporting with the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act by requiring
Continue Reading
EPA Issues First Set of Priority Chemicals for TSCA Risk Assessment
Earlier today, US EPA released the inaugural draft list of 20 “high priority” and 20 “low priority” chemicals for risk evaluation purposes as required by the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA must finalize the listings
Continue Reading
Pesticide Enforcement Alert: EPA Targeting On-Line Sales
Consistent with consumer trends and the ever-increasing role of internet sales, U.S. EPA is targeting on-line pesticide sales as an enforcement priority. In a preview of the anticipated April 1 release of preliminary agency enforcement priorities, Acting Deputy Director of
Continue Reading
EPA Rule Addressing Methylene Chloride Risks Stalled by “Shutdown” … While Activists File First “New TSCA” Court Challenge for EPA Failure to Act
During confirmation hearings before Congress last week, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler indicated that a long-awaited EPA rule to restrict consumer and commercial uses of methylene chloride as a paint and coating remover has been delayed by the government shutdown,
Continue Reading
Enviro Groups May Have Christmas Lump of Coal for EPA: Set to Sue on EPA Decision Not to Develop New “SPCC” Program for Spills of Hazardous Substances
Environmental groups have filed a Notice of Intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its still draft decision not to establish a program to address potential spills of hazardous substances similar to the existing “Spill Prevention, Countermeasure
Continue Reading
Midterm Elections Signal Increase in TSCA Oversight
With Democrats now in control of the House, Congressional oversight of EPA’s implementation of the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is set to ramp up. The expected incoming chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee,
Continue Reading
EPA Finalizes New TSCA User Fees
A new framework of fees to cover the costs of implementing the provisions of the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will go into effect October 1st, under a final rule issued yesterday by EPA. The fees
Continue Reading
For a Clean Slate, Don’t Forget About EPA’s Audit Policy
After almost a decade of neglect, EPA is once again actively encouraging facilities to utilize the agency’s Audit Policy to “address noncompliance in an efficient and timely manner.” Over the last several months, EPA has taken steps to promote use
Continue Reading
Science Transparency: Not a New Concept for EPA
“Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions … The public must be able to trust the science and the scientific process informing public policy decisions.”
Former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt introducing the 2018 proposal he championed on
Continue Reading
EPA Releases Scoping Documents for Risk Evaluation of First 10 Chemicals Under “New TSCA”
EPA released on June 1 the “problem formulation” documents for the first 10 chemicals for which risk evaluations are being conducted under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (See: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-three-important-steps-ensure-chemical-safety-under-lautenberg-act-proposes.) The documents describe the chemical use and exposure scenarios
Continue Reading