By Jeryl L. Olson, Ilana R. MoradyKay R. Bonza, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis:  On December 20, 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) was signed into law, including provisions for adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals under
Continue Reading NDAttention – National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Adds Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals to TRI

By Jeryl L. Olson, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis:  EPA, in an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, requests comments on adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the TRI chemical list.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has asked industry stakeholders to provide comments on a proposal to add per- and polyfluoroalkyl
Continue Reading EPA Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals

By James L. CurtisJeryl L. Olson, and Craig B. Simonsen

OSHA has recently announced a new local emphasis program for health inspections of facilities known to have reported the use and “release” of chemicals defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 as “toxic chemicals”.

Under EPCRA
Continue Reading New OSHA Emphasis Program For EPA Toxic Chemicals Release Reporting Industries

By James L. Curtis and Meagan Newman

As much the East Coast of the U.S. is dealing with Hurricane Sandy it is important to keep in mind that the dangers of a storm of this magnitude persist long after the winds, rains and sleet have passed.

Storm and flood cleanup activities can present hazards to workers and volunteers. Before embarking
Continue Reading After the Storm: Clean-up is Hazardous so Plan Accordingly

By Ilana R. Morady and Elizabeth Leifel Ash

OSHA has issued a more than 800-page Final Rule revising the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 C.F.R. 1910.1200.  The primary purpose of the revised rule is to improve employees’ understanding of health and physical hazards associated with chemical substances and to align requirements for communicating those standards with the United Nations’ Globally

Continue Reading OSHA Revises Hazard Communication Standard