June 7, 2018

Richard E. Engler Presents “New TSCA and Green Chemistry Innovation” at ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry at The Acta Group (Acta®) and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), will present “New TSCA and Green Chemistry Innovation” in the “Real-World Sustainability Challenges: Incentives and Barriers to the Use of Green Chemistry in Products” session on June 18, 2018, at the 22nd Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference (GC&E) hosted by the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Green...
June 7, 2018

New York Launches Disclosure Program Intended to Protect Consumers from Chemicals in Household Cleaning Products

In somewhat of a surprise announcement, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) on June 6, 2018, released its final policy and form for manufacturer disclosures under the Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure Program. The Disclosure Program is similar to the recently enacted California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 which requires the disclosure of cleaning product ingredients by way of website or product label. The Household...
June 5, 2018

Christopher R. Bryant Quoted In Bloomberg Environment Article “Confusion Drives Firms Away From EPA Waste Tracking System”

On July 4, 2018, Christopher R. Bryant, Senior Regulatory Specialist, The Acta Group (Acta®), was quoted by Bloomberg Environment regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new electronic tracking system for hazardous waste shipments called e-Manifest. “There is a ton of confusion and trepidation about how this is all going to work,” Christopher Bryant, senior regulatory consultant for Bergeson & Campbell PC in Washington, told Bloomberg Environment....
June 5, 2018

EPA Takes “Three Important Steps” Intended to Ensure Chemical Safety

On June 1, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it took “three important steps” intended to ensure chemical safety under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act), which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  EPA released the following for public comment:  (1) the first ten problem formulation documents, (2) EPA’s systemic review approach document, and (3) a significant new use rule (SNUR)...
June 4, 2018

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. Named Director of Chemistry of The Acta Group and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

The Acta Group (Acta®) and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) are pleased to announce that Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. has been named Director of Chemistry for our firms. Dr. Engler joined Acta and B&C as Senior Chemist in January 2015 after nearly two decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and has offered his extensive understanding of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other...
June 4, 2018

TSCA at 2: An Update on Implementation and Hot Topics

Monday, June 25, 201811:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT) Register Today Since enactment on June 22, 2016, of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented a muscular regulatory program expressing Congress’ intent for a new and improved Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  The new TSCA framework required significant work and fundamental shifts in regulatory requirements and conceptual approach, but EPA has...
June 4, 2018

Charles M. Auer Quoted By Inside EPA Regarding Reorganization Of EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

On June 4, 2018, Charles M. Auer, Senior Regulatory and Policy Advisor with The Acta Group (Acta®), was quoted in the Inside EPA article “Eying 2018 Deadline, EPA Taps New Division Heads For Reorganized OPPT.” The new reorganization plan is winning approval from former officials. Charles Auer, former director of OPPT and now with the law firm of Bergeson & Campbell, wrote in a recent blog post that dividing the offices to focus on new and existing chemicals...
June 1, 2018

Global Regulatory Update for June 2018

AUSTRALIA Australia Updates HCIS, Including Amended GHS Classifications: Safe Work Australia (SWA) announced on May 9, 2018, that it completed an update of the Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS), a web-based system that provides information on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) classifications, as well as workplace exposure standards. The update incorporates classification information published in tranches 8 to 20 of the...
May 31, 2018

Christopher R. Bryant Quoted By Bloomberg Environment Regarding EPA’s New Definition of Solid Waste

On May 31, 2018, Christopher R. Bryant, Senior Regulatory Specialist, The Acta Group (Acta®), was quoted in the Bloomberg Environment article “EPA Backs Recycling Formerly ‘Hazardous’ Materials, But States Get Final Say.” This quote was also featured as the “Quote of the Day” in Bloomberg Environment’s daily First Move email. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new definition of solid waste “allows more material—like catalysts used in...
May 30, 2018

EPA Issues Immediately Effective Rule Amending RCRA Definition of Solid Waste

Responding to July 2017 and March 2018 orders issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 30, 2018, issued a final rule revising the Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). 83 Fed. Reg. 24664. In a somewhat unusual move, EPA relied upon Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to make the rule immediately...