NEWS
U.S. EPA Issues Final TSCA Fees Rule
On September 27, U.S. EPA finalized its fees rule pursuant to the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act).
EPA Issues Proposed Approach for Identifying Candidate Chemicals for Prioritization
U.S. EPA has issued what it describes as a "Working Approach for Identifying Potential Candidate Chemicals for Prioritization" under the 2016 amendments (the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act) to the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Group Seeks Listing of Zinc-Containing Tires as Priority Product
The California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) has petitioned the Department of Toxic Substances Control to list tires containing zinc as a Priority Product pursuant to the Department's Safer Consumer Products program (SCP).
ACC Asks DTSC to Take A Second Look at Decision to Identify SPF Systems as Priority Product
On July 1, 2018, the Department of Toxic Substances Control formally identified Spray Polyurethane Foam Systems (SPF Systems) with Unreacted Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanates (MDI) as a Priority Product under the Department’s Safer Consumer Products program (SCP).
EPA Celebrates Two Year Anniversary of New TSCA Law by Announcing Completion of Several Actions
On June 22, then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that his agency was celebrating the second anniversary of the 2016 revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act [the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act] by announcing the completion of several initiatives required under the law. The announcement was one of the last made by Pruitt who resigned his position shortly thereafter.
EPA's Problem Formulation Documents Illustrate Agency's Views on Risk Assessment Under TSCA
U.S EPA has announced ten "problem formulation documents," which lay out how the agency plans on doing risk assessments on the initial ten chemicals it has chosen for review under the 2016 TSCA amendments.
OEHHA Proposes Lower PHGs for Cis- and Trans-1,2-DCE
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is proposing Public Health Goals for cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (1,2-DCE) in drinking water.
Coalition Brings Suit Over Food Additives
A coalition of health, consumer, and environmental groups has filed a petition with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco asking that court to order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act on an earlier petition filed by the coalition members.
DTSC Considering Listing NPE Containing Laundry Detergents as Priority Product
The Department of Toxic Substances Control is considering the listing of laundry detergents containing nonylphenol oxylates (NPEs) as a "Priority Product" pursuant to the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program.
DTSC Releases Final Version of Priority Product Work Plan with Few Changes
The Department of Toxic Substances Control has released the final version of its second Priority Product Work Plan laying out the product categories that the Department staff will investigate for possible listing as Priority Products for the next three years under the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program.
DTSC Lists SPF Systems as Second Priority Product under Its SCP Program
The Department of Toxic Substances Control has listed spray polyurethane foam systems with unreacted methylene diphenyl diisocyanates (SPF Systems) as a "Priority Product" pursuant to the department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program; effective as of July 1.
Environmental Groups File Opening Brief in Ninth Circuit Challenging TSCA Framework Rules
Fifteen organizations—including environmental groups, unions, public health groups, and local advocates—have joined together to file an opening brief with the Ninth Circuit challenging U.S. EPA's major "framework rules" implementing the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Judge Concludes Requiring Prop. 65 Warning on Glyphosate Products Violates First Amendment
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) or anyone else from enforcing Proposition 65's warning requirement for the recently listed pesticide ingredient glyphosate.
EPA Proposes TSCA Fee Rule
On February 8, U.S. EPA issued a proposed rule establishing fees to be paid by chemical manufacturers or importers for actions covered by the recently amended Toxic Substances Control Act. This "fees rule" is the fourth and final "framework" rule that EPA is required to adopt pursuant to the new law.
DTSC Intends to List Carpets and Rugs Containing PFAs as a Priority Product
The Department of Toxic Substances Control has announced that it is planning to list carpets and rugs containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) as a "priority product" pursuant to the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program.
New Coalition Will Support Industry Attack on IARC
A group of industry and business interests has launched a new coalition seeking to "reform" the process utilized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in its Monograph program.
DTSC Adds Food Packaging and Lead Acid Batteries to Product Categories for Possible Regulation under the SCP
The Department of Toxic Substances Control has released a draft of what would be its second Priority Product Work Plan laying out product categories that it will study for possible identification as "priority products" under the Department’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program.
Commenters Have Sharply Different Views of DTSC's Proposed Designation of Methylene Chloride Paint Strippers as a SCP Priority Product
In November the Department of Toxic Substances Control announced it was proposing to designate "paint or varnish strippers containing methylene chloride" as a priority product pursuant to the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program.
California District Court Rules That EPA Wrongly Dismissed TSCA Section 21 Petition
In a decision of first impression under the new TSCA law, the District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled that U.S. EPA wrongly dismissed a Section 21 petition filed by coalition of anti-fluoridation groups.
Glyphosate Case Correction
We recently filed a story discussing a lawsuit filed in federal district court by Monsanto Corporation and several agricultural associations [see Monsanto and Farm Groups Sue to Overturn Glyphosate Listing, December 21, 2017]...
