EPA has released its updated “working approach” for determining whether new chemical applications meet the Toxic Substances Control Act’s (TSCA) “unreasonable risk” standard, retaining controversial provisions over its use of interim enforcement orders and worker protections even as it sought to provide explanations absent from an earlier version.
A federal judge has again denied EPA’s effort to end a potentially precedent-setting suit challenging the agency’s denial of a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) citizen petition seeking to ban drinking water fluoridation, though the judge also rejected plaintiffs’ competing summary judgment motion that sought a quick ruling in their favor.
Complying with statutory mandates, EPA has formally listed the next 20 existing chemicals it will review for possible regulation under the revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), even as the agency continues to struggle to meet the law’s deadlines for reviewing the first 10 substances.
Top EPA officials Dec. 10 sought to detail a long-awaited, updated approach to reviewing new chemicals under the agency’s revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authorities but officials offered few, if any, new details and drew renewed criticisms from industry, environmentalists and other stakeholders.
Health and labor groups, along with two top Democrats, are raising concerns about OSHA’s plan to revise exposure standards for beryllium in the shipyard and construction sectors, and are urging changes to the plan to better protect workers’ health, highlighting a clash with industry groups who are threatening to sue OSHA if it finalizes the rule.
A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that blocked the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) from enforcing subpoenas related to “potential” releases, with the three-judge panel finding the board’s reach includes the power to subpoena documents to examine the “potential harm” stemming from an industrial accident.
A federal judge is grappling with tough questions on standing and review standards as he weighs whether to dismiss on both procedural and substantive grounds a potentially precedent-setting suit challenging EPA’s denial of a Toxic Substances Control Act’s (TSCA) citizen petition which asked the agency to ban drinking water fluoridation.
EPA is rejecting calls from former officials, labor and other advocates to exercise special “emergency” authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to quickly address the risks of methylene chloride, the widely used solvent, to workers and others arguing that the agency’s draft risk evaluation does not justify taking such an action.
Major industry organizations are renewing their concerns over OSHA’s proposal to revise the standards for occupational exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds in the shipyard and construction sectors, with the groups warning that the plan might be unlawful -- a hint of possible legal challenges if OSHA finalizes the plan.
As EPA’s ban on consumer uses of paint strippers containing methylene chloride (MC) takes effect, former officials are urging the agency to quickly adopt a host of emergency limits on commercial and other uses of the substance, citing a recent draft assessment that found they pose “unreasonable risks” to workers and others that must quickly be addressed.