Federal
EPA Announces Request For Comments On ICR For Its P2 Awards Program
On June 11, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that its Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards Program is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Before proceeding with the ICR, however, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed ICR. EPA’s P2 Program consists of a voluntary program that encourages businesses and facilities to adopt P2 projects that reduce financial costs associated with waste management and cleanup, as well as environmental costs associated with health and environmental problems. Comments must be submitted on or before August 10, 2020.
Are you curious about EPA’s P2 Program and how your entity may benefit from its Awards Program? Would you like to engage with EPA? B&C® Consortia Management, L.L.C.’s (BCCM) Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®) and Bergeson and Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) Toxic Substances Control Act New Chemicals Coalition (TSCA NCC) have further information about all of this. For more information about BRAG or TSCA NCC, check out BRAG’s web page or contact Ligia Duarte Botelho at lbotelho@bccm.com.
State
MASBDA Announces Availability Of Grants For Biofuel Entities
On June 4, 2020, the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) announced the creation of the Biofuel Infrastructure Program (BIP). Designed to increase the availability of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel in Missouri, BIP partners with private entities to support biofuel producers in applying for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Investment Program (HBIIP) funding. The MASBDA Board of Directors has allocated up to $2 million statewide in grant funds. The maximum grant amount is $200,000 for each business entity and can be used to fulfill up to 25 percent of the cash match obligation required for HBIIP. Eligible project costs include but are not limited to:
- Retrofitting of existing, or purchase and installation of new, fuel dispensers (gas and/or diesel pumps) and attached equipment, underground storage tank system components, and other infrastructure required at a location to ensure the environmentally safe availability of fuel containing ethanol blends greater than 10 percent or fuel containing biodiesel blends greater than 5 percent;
- Construction, retrofitting, replacement, and improvements;
- Fees for construction permits and licenses; and
- Professional service fees for qualified consultants, contractors, installers, and other third-party services.
The application deadline for these grants is July 1, 2020. A non-refundable fee of $150 must accompany applications up to $25,000, and a fee of $300 for applications of $25,000 and over. For funded grants, an administrative fee of 10 percent of the grant amount will be assessed when the contract is executed. Further information can be accessed here, and the application here.
MASBDA Executive Director, Jill Wood, expressed enthusiasm for the newly created BIP, stating that her team at MASBDA “is excited to stand in the financial gap that may help some agribusinesses from applying these federal funds.”
Events
NEXT WEEK: B&C To Present At The 23rd Annual GC&E Conference, June 15-19, 2020
From June 15-19, 2020, the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be hosting its annual Green Chemistry and Engineering (GC&E) Conference virtually. On June 15, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT), during the “Enabling a Circular Economy for Materials in the Consumer Goods Industry,” Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., B&C’s Director of Chemistry, will proudly present his abstract titled “Road-map for Innovators – Commercialization in a Circular Economy.”
In addition, Engler will present a poster titled “TSCA Tutor — The Importance of Regulatory Awareness and Applications” on each day of the conference, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. (EDT). The poster presentation will highlight B&C’s complete suite of TSCA Tutor® regulatory training courses online and on-demand. This year’s conference registration is free, so check out Engler’s abstract and poster presentations!
B&C will also have a virtual exhibitor booth concurrent with the poster session mentioned above where attendees can learn more about B&C’s services, BRAG, and B&C’s affiliates The Acta Group and BCCM. Join us during our live sessions to discover more! If those times do not work for you, check us out during one of the conference’s networking breaks daily from 2:45 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. (EDT).
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI), B&C, and the George Washington University (GWU) Milken Institute School of Public Health are proud to announce its “TSCA Reform — Four Years Later” presentation in the virtual day-long TSCA Annual Conference. Free and open to the public, the virtual conference reflects on the accomplishments and challenges since the implementation of the 2016 Lautenberg Amendments and TSCA stands today. Panelists will cover “TSCA Implementation: Where Are We Now?,” “Science Policy Issues,” and “Regulatory and Policy Issues” while offering unique insights into the decision-making process of top EPA officials. The virtual conference is scheduled for June 24, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT). A detailed agenda and registration information is available here.
Other News
| ■ | WallacesFarmer, “Iowa Capitol Sends Strong Message of Support for Biofuels” |
| ■ | Chemical Engineering, “Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics from Plant Sugars” |
| ■ | Innovators Magazine, “‘From Fossil-Based to Bio-Based’” |
| ■ | Daily Harold, “Hoosier National Forest Experiments with Wood Harvest Debris” |
| ■ | ABC News Australia, “Safflower Oil Hailed by Scientists as Possible Recyclable, Biodegradable Replacement for Petroleum” |
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