Environmental Product Declarations EPD Development

ASTM International has announced that it will be collaborating with industry to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across the over 90 industry markets, including sealants. The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) will be partnering with ASTM International to raise awareness and educate industry on the value of Type III EPDs, and proactively engage industry in developing Product Category Rules (PCR).

In 2012, ASTM International announced that it was becoming a global Program Operator for PCR development and EPD verification. In January 2013, the members of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants agreed to become active in the PCR process and to forward with scoping the PCR development for sealants. ASTM Committee C24 will meet in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 9-11, 2013.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment. Caltha Environmental Review Website

Land Use and Noise Impact Environmental Review Criteria From HUD

US Department of Housing and Urban Development has released a memorandum which clarifies existing agency policy on rehabilitation of existing buildings that changes the original land use. New land uses resulting from rehabilitation may be considered new noise-sensitive uses as if they were new construction. If those new uses are in Unacceptably noise-exposed areas (external noise greater than 75 decibels), an Environmental Impact Statement is required.


Click here for more information on Caltha's Environmental Review services, including Environmental Assessments completed for HUD funded projects

USDA Environmental Assessment Worksheet For Proposed Iowa Food Processing Plant

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: USDA Environmental Assessment Worksheet For Proposed Food Processing Plant
Client: Food Processer and Regional Economic Development Corporation
Location(s): Iowa

Key Elements: USDA Environmental Assessment Worksheet, Environmental Effects & Impacts, Regulatory and Permitting Requirements

Overview: Caltha LLP was retained by the project proposer, a food processing company, and the Regional Economic Development Corporation to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed project as required by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to secure a USDA backed loan for the project. Caltha staff worked in coordination with the project proposer and local USDA staff to prepare the EAW document. EAW elements evaluated included:

I. Project Description Purpose and Need

II. Primary Beneficiaries and Related Activities

III. Description of the Project Area

IV. Environmental Impacts Resource Criteria

1. Air Quality

2. Surface Water, Water Supply Quality, Groundwater, Storm Water, and Waste Water

3. Solid Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Management

4. General Land Use 5

. Transportation

6. Natural Environment

7. Human Population Socio-Economic/Environmental Justice

8. Construction

9. Energy

10. Miscellaneous

V. Coastal Zone Management Areas

VI. Cultural Resources, Historical, Archaeological

VII. Wild and Scenic Rivers

VIII. Biological Resources Critical Habitat and Endangered/Threatened Species Act

IX. Important Farmland

X. Floodplain Management and Wetlands Management

XI. Coastal Barrier Resources System

XII. State Environmental Policy Act

XIII. Intergovernmental Review

XIV. Environmental Analysis Of Participating Federal Agency

XV. Reaction To Project

XVI. Cumulative Impacts

XVII. Adverse Impacts

XVIII. Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action

XIX. Mitigation

XX. Consistency with Rural Development Environmental Policies

For more information on Caltha LLP services, go to the Caltha Contact Page

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment. Caltha Environmental Review Website

TSCA Risk Assessment Plan For Flame Retardant Chemicals.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will begin assessments on 23 commonly used chemicals, with a specific focus on flame retardant chemicals. These assessments are part of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan which identifies commonly used chemicals for risk assessment. EPA plans to begin by evaluating 20 flame retardant chemicals, conducting full risk assessments for four of the flame retardants, three of which are on the TSCA Work Plan, and one that was the subject of an Action Plan development under TSCA. In addition, EPA plans to conduct assessments of eight other flame retardants by grouping flame retardants with similar characteristics together with the chemicals targeted for full assessment.

EPA also plans to evaluate how eight of the 20 flame retardant chemicals transform and move in the environment. These chemicals were selected because they are likely to persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in humans and/or have high exposure potential, but lack adequate data to conduct full risk assessments. During its review of data on flame retardant chemicals in commerce, EPA also identified approximately 50 flame retardant chemicals that are unlikely to pose a risk to human health, making them possible substitutes for more toxic flame retardant chemicals.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Proposed Changes To FTA FHA Categorical Exemptions

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have published a Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which proposes to amend some Categorical Exemptions the agencies use to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NPRM provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) joint procedures that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments must be received on or before April 29, 2013.

The revisions are in response to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The agencies propos to add new categorical exclusions for projects within an existing operational right-of-way and projects receiving limited Federal funding. Funding thresholds being proposed are projects receiving less than $5,000,000 of Federal funds; or with a total estimated cost less than $30,000,000 and Federal funds comprising less than 15% of the total estimated project cost.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

Changes To Environmental Review For Federal Transit Administration - Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have published a final rule revising some of their Environmental review and Related Procedures. This final rule makes revisions to the joint FTA and FHWA regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The final rule is effective on February 7, 2013

FTA and FHWA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on March 15, 2012. In the NPRM, FTA proposed: (1) The creation of ten new categorical exclusions (CEs) to be located in a newly proposed section of the regulation at 23 CFR 771.118; (2) the expansion of public involvement methods to include electronic means; (3) the addition of language on early scoping into the regulations; (4) a modification to the list of project types that normally result in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and (5) the inclusion of an FTA review role in contracting for Environmental Assessment (EA) and EIS projects. The comment period closed on May 14, 2012.

Of the five major changes FTA and the FHWA included in the March 2012 NPRM, four are being carried forward in this final rule: (1) The creation of ten new CEs to be located in a newly proposed section of the regulation at 23 CFR 771.118; (2) the expansion of public involvement methods to include electronic means; (3) the addition of language on early scoping into the regulations; and (4) a modification to the list of project types that normally result in the preparation of an EIS. FTA intends that the preamble language contained in this final rule be used as guidance when applying the changes made by this final rule.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

TSCA Review For Common Household Product Chemicals

EPA has released for public comment draft risk assessments on five chemicals found in common household products. The draft risk assessments were developed as part of the agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan, which identified common chemicals for review to assess any impacts on human health and the environment. The five assessments address the following chemical uses:

• methylene chloride or dichloromethane (DCM) and n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in paint stripper products;
• trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser and a spray-on protective coating;
• antimony trioxide (ATO) as a synergist in halogenated flame retardants; and
• 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8,-hexamethylcyclopenta-[γ]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) as a fragrance ingredient in commercial and consumer products.

The draft assessments focus either on human health or ecological hazards for specific uses which are subject to regulation under TSCA. The draft assessments were undertaken as part of EPA’s efforts to identify chemicals for review under the TSCA Work Plan, which EPA released in March 2012. At that time, EPA identified 83 chemicals as candidates for review and outlined the data sources and other information the agency would use in the reviews.


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

Preliminary Rulemaking In California For Hydraulic Fracturing Operations

On December 18, the California Department of Conservation/Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources released a draft of regulations covering hydraulic fracturing. The Division says the draft regulations are a "discussion draft," meaning the version does not begin a formal rulemaking process, but rather, starts the discussion by key stakeholders, such as industry, environmental groups, regulators, and any interested members of the public. The discussions will help prepare for the more formal rulemaking process, which is expected to begin by February 2013. The Division will accept written comments until 45 days after the formal rulemaking begins.

The discussion draft regulations touch on topics such as:

• Pre-fracturing well-testing;
• Advance notification;
• Monitoring during and after drilling operations;
• Disclosure of fracturing fluid materials;
• Confidential business information; and
• Handling and Storage of hydraulic fracturing fluids;

The proposed regulations would require hydraulic fracturing operators to publicly disclose detailed information about their operations, including a complete list of chemicals, and their concentrations. If the material is a trade secret, then operators must inform the public of its chemical family or use a similar method to describe it.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission Collaboration On Nanomaterial Risk Research

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced their collaboration in a research effort to assess any potential impacts of nanomaterials on human health and the environment. Nanomaterials appear in many household products ranging from clothing to building materials.

EPA's collaborative research with CSPC is part of a larger effort that focuses on:

• Identifying, characterizing and quantifying the origins of nanomaterials
• Studying biological processes affected by nanomaterials that could influence risk
• Determining how nanomaterials interact with complex systems in the human body and the environment
• Involving industry to develop sustainable manufacturing processes
• Sharing knowledge through innovative online applications that allow for rapid feedback and accelerated research progress

CPSC, in working with other federal agencies, ensures that common public health concerns are met and will use research findings to inform:

• Protocol development to assess the potential release of nanomaterials from consumer products
• Credible rules for consumer product testing to evaluate exposure
• Determination of the potential public health impacts of nanomaterial used in consumer products

This research is a part of the U.S. government efforts to assess the potential risks of nanomaterials. These efforts are coordinated by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). NNI is a collaborative project comprised of 25 agencies, including EPA and CPSC.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

NIOSHA Recommended Medical Surveillance For Some Healthcare Workers

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is recommending addition protections for healthcare workers who prepare, administer, or transport hazardous drugs or dispose of hazardous drug waste  To minimize or prevent exposure to chemical hazards, NIOSH is recommending that employers establish a medical surveillance program as part of a comprehensive prevention program that utilizes engineering controls, good work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and training to protect workers.

Medical surveillance involves collecting and interpreting data to detect changes in the health status of working populations potentially exposed to hazardous substances.The elements of a medical surveillance program are used to establish an initial baseline of workers' health and then monitor future health as it relates to their potential exposure to hazardous agents. This information can be used to identify and correct prevention failures leading to disease. In particular, an effective surveillance program begins with a hazard identification program that is integrated with surveillance for disease or illness.

NIOSH has indicated that for workers exposed to hazardous drugs, the medical surveillance program should include:

• Reproductive and general health questionnaires completed at the time of hire and periodically thereafter.
• History of drug handling as an estimate of prior and current exposure, including dates of duty assignment related to hazardous drugs and similar types of information.
• A plan to provide initial baseline clinical evaluation, including appropriately targeted medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing for workers identified as being potentially exposed to hazardous drugs that anticipates their potential toxicities.
• A follow-up plan as needed for workers who have shown health changes suggesting toxicity or who have experienced an acute exposure (substantial skin contact or inhalation exposure, cleaning a large spill [a broken IV bag, leaking IV line], etc.).

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Information Request For Hydraulic Fracturing Study

EPA has published a request for information in the Federal Register asking the public to submit data and scientific literature on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Congress has requested that EPA to conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources, in response to public concern.

The Agency is undertaking a study to understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, if any, and to identify the factors that may affect the severity and frequency of such impacts. The scope of the study includes the full hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle, from water acquisition, through the mixing of chemicals and injection of fracturing fluids, to the post-fracturing stage (including the management of flowback and produced water), to its ultimate treatment and disposal. The study will include a review of the published literature, analysis of existing data, scenario evaluation and modeling, laboratory studies, and case studies.

Interested persons are requested to submit scientific analyses, studies, and other pertinent scientific information. The agency will accept data literature until April 30, 2013.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Use of e-NEPA System Required After October 1, 2012

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of e-NEPA, a new online system that allows federal agencies to submit environmental impact statements (EISs) electronically. Traditionally, EISs have been submitted to EPA in hard copy. e-NEPA eliminates the need to mail or deliver copies of EISs to EPA headquarters, reducing printing, shipping, and delivery costs. EPA also belives it will save time through electronic filing and e-confirmation and improves transparency, allowing EPA to post EIS documents to EPA’s website.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making processes by identifying the environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to their proposed actions. To meet NEPA requirements federal agencies prepare detailed analyses known as EISs. EPA reviews, provides comments, and maintains a national filing system for EISs.

Beginning on October 1, 2012, all agencies are required to use the e-NEPA filing system.


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

FTC Issues Revised Green Guides For Environmental Attribute Claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued revised "Green Guides" that are designed to help marketers ensure that the claims they make about the environmental attributes of their products are truthful and non-deceptive. FTC has modified and clarified sections of the previous Guides and provided new guidance on environmental claims that were not common when the Guides were last reviewed.

Among other modifications, the Guides caution marketers not to make broad, unqualified claims that a product is "environmentally friendly" or "eco-friendly" because the FTC's consumer perception study confirms that such claims are likely to suggest that the product has specific and far-reaching environmental benefits. The revised Guides advise marketers not to make an unqualified degradable claim for a solid waste product unless they can prove that the entire product or package will completely break down and return to nature within one year after customary disposal.

The FTC cautions that items destined for landfills, incinerators, or recycling facilities will not degrade within a year, so marketers should not make unqualified degradable claims for these items; and clarify guidance on compostable, ozone, recyclable, recycled content, and source reduction claims.The Guides also contain new sections on Certifications and seals of approval; carbon offsets; free-of claims; non-toxic claims; made with renewable energy claims; and made with renewable materials claims.

The FTC first issued its Green Guides in 1992 to help marketers avoid making misleading environmental claims. It revised the Guides in 1996 and 1998, and proposed further revisions in October 2010 to take into account recent changes in the marketplace. The guidance they provide includes:

• General principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims;
• How consumers are likely to interpret particular claims, and how marketers can substantiate these claims; and
• How marketers can qualify their claims to avoid deceiving consumers.

FTC says the revised Guides issued take into account nearly 340 unique comments and more than 5,000 total comments received since the FTC released the proposed revised Guides in the fall of 2010. They also include information gathered from three public workshops and a study of how consumers perceive and understand environmental claims.

The Green Guides are not agency rules or regulations, but describe the types of environmental claims the FTC may or may not find deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act. Under Section 5, the agency can take enforcement action against deceptive claims, which ultimately can lead to Commission orders prohibiting deceptive advertising and marketing and fines if those orders are later violated.


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Minnesota Based Grocery Chain Awarded For Improved Refrigerant Handling

Minnesota-based Supervalu, which operates Albertsons and Lucky stores, earned this year’s Distinguished Partner Award. The Distinguished Partner Award is given to the supermarket partner company that goes above and beyond to advance the mission of the GreenChill Partnership. Albertsons Carpinteria, Calif., store was recognized with GreenChill’s prestigious Best of the Best Award, given to the best new GreenChill-certified store each year. The Carpenteria store recently achieved Platinum-Level store certification, the highest certification level that can be obtained for advanced refrigeration technology that prevents harmful refrigerant emissions. It is the first store in the nation to use a new generation of low global warming refrigerants.

GreenChill is an EPA partnership with supermarkets to transition to low-impact refrigerants; reduce the amount of refrigerant used, and eliminate refrigerant leaks. GreenChill has 54 partners with almost 8,000 stores, representing over 20% of the supermarket industry.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

Microbial Risk Assessment (MRA) Guideline

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced the release of the Microbial Risk Assessment (MRA) Guideline. This new MRA Guideline lays out an approach to conducting assessments of the risks posed by pathogens in food and water. Pathogens ingested in food and water can result in acute gastrointestinal-related illnesses; some gastrointestinal-related illnesses can result in long-term and permanent health effects as well as premature death. This new guideline will improve the quality of the data collected by public health scientists charged with protecting Americans from pathogen-related risks in food and water.

Formal risk assessments for food, water, and environmentally-relevant chemicals have been undertaken for decades. However, an overarching microbial risk assessment guideline has not been available until now. The guideline announced today meets this need by providing comprehensive, yet specific and descriptive information for developing assessments of microbial risk in food and water.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Caltha Environmental Review Website

Flame Retardant Alternatives Report

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft report on alternatives to the toxic flame retardant chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE). Developed with public participation under the Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) program, the comprehensive assessment profiles the environmental and human health hazards of 30 alternatives to decaBDE. DecaBDE is a common flame retardant used in electronics, vehicles, and building materials. Because it can cause adverse developmental effects, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate in people and animals, it will be phased out of production by December 2013.

EPA's new report was intended to help manufacturers identify alternatives to decaBDE. EPA will work directly with manufacturers to investigate chemical and non-chemical alternatives to flame retardants. EPA said the draft report is the latest in a series of actions it is taking to address flame retardants made with bromine. Other actions include:

• June 1, 2012: EPA released a TSCA work plan of 18 chemicals which the agency intends to review and use to develop risk assessments in 2013 and 2014, including three flame retardant chemicals. EPA is currently developing a strategy, scheduled for completion by the end of this year that will address these three and a broader set of flame retardant chemicals. This effort will aid the agency in focusing risk assessments on those flame retardant chemicals that pose the greatest potential concerns. EPA anticipates initiating the risk assessments on this category of chemicals in 2013.
• April 2, 2012: EPA proposed actions under TSCA that will require manufacturers, importers, and processors of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants to submit information to the agency for review before initiating any new uses of PBDEs after Dec 31, 2013. Those who continue to manufacture, import, or process after December 31, 2013, would be subject to a testing requirement under TSCA.
• 2009: EPA developed action plans on PBDEs (including pentaBDE, octaBDE, and decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) that summarized available hazard, exposure, and use information; outlined potential risks; and identified the specific steps the agency is pursuing under the TSCA. The alternatives analysis for decaBDE was included in the action plan.

According to EPA, alternatives to decaBDE characterized in the report are already on the market and will be used increasingly as decaBDE is phased out, but they also have differing hazard characteristics and are associated with trade-offs. For example, some alternatives that appear to have a relatively positive human health profile may be more persistent in the environment. Some alternatives appear to be less toxic than decaBDE. Preliminary data suggests that these flame retardants may have a lower potential for bioaccumulation in people and the environment. However, the Agency points out that these health and environmental profiles are largely based on computer-model generated estimates, and that the models are limited in their ability to predict concern. Laboratory testing and ongoing environmental monitoring is necessary to fully understand the potential for concern associated with these chemicals.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment. Caltha Environmental Review Website

Revised Navy Energy Policy

On July 10, U.S. Navy announced a new shore energy policy. A complete revision from the previous energy policy published in 1994, the Shore Energy Management Instruction codifies the Navy's strategy to ensure energy security meets federal mandates and executive orders and achieves Department of the Navy (DoN) shore energy goals.

The new policy is necessary, according to the Navy, because naval forces require constant support from shore installations. The Navy wants to mitigate its vulnerabilities related to the electrical grid, such as outages from natural disasters and man-made events, by lowering consumption, integrating renewable energy sources, and increasing control of energy supply and distribution. Energy reliability, resiliency, and redundancy are essential components of the Navy's Critical Infrastructure Protection program.

The revised policy includes specific responsibilities and actions that shore personnel must take in implementing the Navy Shore Energy program. Each Navy installation will have a tailored energy consumption reduction goal based on its unique energy situation. By increasing energy efficiency, the Navy hopes to reduce operating costs, multiply the impact of current and future alternative energy sources, and achieve renewable energy targets.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Report On Use of Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released its report examining the nation's use of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The report, titled “Federal Efforts to Reduce the Cost of Capturing and Storing Carbon Dioxide,” concludes that the initial costs of generating electricity with CCS would be “much more expensive than electricity produced by conventional coal-burning plants.”

According to the CBO, coal-fired power plants produce up to 45% of the usable electricity in the US, but they also account for a third of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a major component in greenhouse gases, which have been associated with climate change. CCS is considered one option for coal-fired power plants to reduce their carbon emissions by “capturing” the CO2 produced when coal is burned, compressing it into a fluid, and storing it deep underground.

Although the process is in use in some industries, no CCS-equipped coal-fired power plants have been built on a commercial scale. Since 2005, lawmakers have given the Department of Energy (DOE) almost $7 billion to develop CCS technology, including its commercial viability, and reduce the cost of electricity generated by CCS-capable plants. The CBO concludes that unless funding to the DOE is substantially increased, or other policies are adopted to encourage utilities to invest in CCS, federal support is likely to play only a minor role in deployment of the technology.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Draft Nanomaterial Case Study Released For Comment

On July 2 , 2012, EPA announced a 60-day public comment period for EPA's case study on multiwalled carbon nanotubes in flame-retardant coatings used in upholstery textiles. The draft document on the study, issued by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), does not draw conclusions regarding potential risks or hazards of multiwalled carbon nanotubes; rather, it aims to identify what is known and unknown about the nanotubes to support future research. EPA says the draft document, which is being released for public comment and peer review, is not final. The Agency will consider comments it receives when finalizing the case study. In addition, EPA will hold an information exchange meeting to discuss the draft document and to provide information on the nanomaterial case study.

According to EPA, the draft document follows previous efforts on engineered nanoscale materials, or nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are materials that measure between 1 and 100 nanometers and often possess unusual, if not unique, properties that arise from their small size. Like all materials, EPA says, nanomaterials offer the potential for both benefits and risks.

EPA's 2007 Nanotechnology White Paper included the following recommendations regarding the risk assessment of nanomaterials:

1.  Develop case studies based on publicly available information on one or several intentionally produced nanomaterials and identify information gaps to help map areas of research that would support the sick assessment process; and
2. Hold a series of workshops involving a substantial number of experts from several disciplines to assist in these processes.

To meet these recommendations, NCEA has also prepared the Nanomaterial case studies “Nanoscale Titanium Dioxide in Water Treatment and in Topical Sunscreen” [Final] in 2010, and “Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray” [External Review Draft] in 2012.

The comment period for the draft document begins July 2, 2012, and ends August 31, 2012. The public information exchange meeting will be held on October 29, 2012 at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website

Four New Chemicals Added To California Prop 65 List

Effective June 22, 2012, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) within the California Environmental Protection Agency is adding benzophenone (CAS No. 119-61-9), coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide diethanolamine) (CAS No. 68603-42-9), diethanolamine (CAS No. 111-42-2), and 2-methylimidazole (CAS No. 693-98-1) to the list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).

The updated list of Prop 65 chemicals now includes these compounds. The basis for the listing of benzophenone, coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide diethanolamine), diethanolamine, and 2-methylimidazole was described in a public notice published in the January 20, 2012, in the California Regulatory Notice Register. The publication of the notice initiated a public comment period that closed on April 6, 2012.

 Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Environmental Review and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Caltha Environmental Review Website