Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Over.the.coming.months,.we.will.be.announcing.a.variety.of.opportunities.for.pub-
lic.input.regarding.our.program.to.address.nanoscale.materials.including:.(1).public.
scientiic.peer.consultations.to.discuss.risk.management.practices.and.characterization.
for.nanoscale.materials;.(2).an.overall.framework.document.describing.the.TSCA.pro-
gram.for.nanoscale.materials;.(3).a.document.on.distinguishing.the.TSCA.Inventory.
status. of. 'new'. versus. 'existing'. chemical. nanoscale. materials;. (4). a. concept. paper.
describing.EPA's.thinking.for.the.Stewardship.Program,.as.well.as.an.Information.Col-
lection.Request.to.collect.data.under.the.Stewardship.Program;.(5).workshops.exam-
ining.the.pollution.prevention.opportunities.for.nanoscale.materials;.and.(6).a.public.
meeting.to.discuss.these.documents.and.program.elements.[19].
On.July.12,.2007,.the.EPA.issued.a.“concept.paper”.on.the.NMSP;.convened.a.
public.stakeholder.meeting.on.August.2,.2007;.and.requested.public.input.on.the.ele-
ments.of.the.program.[20]..Each.of.these.developments.is.discussed.below.
The.NMSP.Concept.Paper.describes.the.EPA's.general.approach,.issues,.and.con-
siderations.for.the.NMSP,.and.is.intended.to.serve.as.a.starting.point.for.continuing.
work.with.stakeholders.on.the.detailed.design.of.the.NMSP..The.EPA.developed.the.
NMSP.Concept.Paper.and.its.accompanying.annexes.“to.outline.[the.EPA's].initial.
thinking.on.the.design.and.development”.of.the.NMSP,.which.will.“complement.and.
support.[the.EPA's].new.and.existing.chemical.efforts.on.nanoscale.materials”.and.
“help.address.some.of.the.issues.identiied.in.the.EPA's.Nanotechnology.White.Paper.”.
[21].The.EPA.states.that.the.NMSP.has.the.following.speciic.objectives.[21]:
•
Help.the.EPA.assemble.existing.data.and.information.from.manufacturers.
and.processors.of.existing.chemical.nanoscale.materials
Identify.and.encourage.the.use.of.risk.management.practices.in.developing.
and.commercializing.nanoscale.materials
Encourage.the.development.of.test.data.needed.to.provide.a.irmer.scientiic.
foundation.for.future.work.and.regulatory/policy.decisions
Encourage.responsible.development
•
•
•
The.NMSP.will.include,.but.not.be.limited.to,.engineered.nanoscale.materials.
manufactured.or.imported.for.commercial.purposes.within.the.meaning.of.40.C.F.R..
Section. 720.3(r).. Importantly,. the. EPA. explains. that. participation. in. the. NMSP.
“would. not. relieve. or. replace. any. requirements. under. TSCA. that. a. manufacturer,.
importer,.or.processor.of.nanoscale.materials.may.otherwise.have”.[21].
Annex. A. of. the. NMSP. Concept. Paper. (“Description. of. Nanoscale. Materials.
for.Reporting”).contains.“clariications.and.descriptions”.of.various.key.terms.used.
throughout. the. Concept. Paper,. including. “engineered,”. “nanoscale,”. “engineered.
nanoscale.material,”.and.“nanotechnology.”
With. respect. to. participation. in. the. NMSP,. the. EPA. foresees. involvement. by.
persons. or. entities. that. do. or. intend. to. do. any. of. the. following,. with. the. corre-
sponding. intent. to. offer. a. commercially. available. product:. manufacture. or. import.
engineered. nanoscale. materials;. physically. or. chemically. modify. an. engineered.
nanoscale. material;. physically. or. chemically. modify. a. non-nanoscale. material. to.
create.an.engineered.nanoscale.material;.or.use.engineered.nanoscale.materials.in.
the.manufacture.of.a.product.[21]..Both.“new”.and.“existing”.(for.purposes.of.TSCA.
