NANOSCALE SILVER:  EPA is announcing a 45-day public comment period for the draft document ``Nanomaterial Case Study: Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray'' (EPA/600/R-10/081).  The document is being issued by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and Development.  The draft is intended to serve as part of a process to help identify and prioritize scientific and technical information that could be used in conducting comprehensive environmental assessments of selected nanomaterials.  It does not attempt to draw conclusions regarding potential environmental risks of nanoscale silver; rather, it aims to identify what is known and unknown about nanoscale silver to support future assessment efforts.    When finalizing the draft document, EPA intends to consider any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with this notice.    EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination review under applicable information quality guidelines.  This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination.   The draft document is available via the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea.   DATES: The 45-day public comment period begins August 13, 2010, and ends September 27, 2010.  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-20083.htm

DENTAL AMALGAM/CATEGORICAL STANDARDS:  The Environmental Council of States (ECOS) has sent EPA a letter requesting action by EPA on developing effluent guidelines for dental mercury (amalgam).  See the letter at: http://www.ecos.org/files/4181_file_ECOS_Letter_to_Silva_on_Effluent_Guidelines_Resolution.pdf

EMERGING POLLUTANTS OF CONCERN AND TREATMENT:  EPA is releasing the results of an extensive literature review of published studies of the effectiveness of various treatment technologies for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).  EPA also is releasing a report that discusses some of the results of the literature search, including removals of specific CECs across common wastewater treatment technologies.  In response to emerging concerns about the possible impacts of pharmaceuticals, detergents, hormones, and other chemicals on human health and aquatic organisms, EPA searched over 400 articles that referenced treatment of CECs.  About 100 of those sources contained treatment information which was entered into a searchable database.  EPA compiled and summarized the results reported by researchers in the last five years. The research studies occurred primarily in the U.S., Canada, and in Europe.  The report discusses 16 of the over 200 CECs present in the database, and the average percent removals achieved by full-scale treatment systems that employ six of the more than 20 reported treatment technologies.  http://epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/studies/results.html

DEA Heads First-ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-back Day: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.  DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, from 10 A.M.-2 P.M. local time.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to www.dea.gov.  This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations. Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/August/10-opa-937.html

EPA Releases Draft Strategy for Clean Water (08/20/2010):  EPA is inviting the public to comment on the agency’s draft strategy to protect and restore our nation’s lakes, streams and coastal waters. The strategy, “Coming Together for Clean Water: EPA’s Strategy for Achieving Clean Water,” is designed to chart EPA’s path in furthering EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s key priority of protecting America’s waters.  The strategy was developed by considering the input and ideas generated at the April “Coming Together for Clean Water” forum as well as comments received through the online discussion forum. Participants shared their perspectives on how to advance the EPA’s clean water agenda focusing on the agency’s two priority areas: healthy watersheds and sustainable communities. EPA is now inviting the public to consider and provide their comments on the approaches outlined in the strategy.  Public comments on the draft strategy should be submitted by September 17.  More information on the draft strategy and to comment: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

EPA to Take Action on Chemicals Used in Dyes, Flame Retardants, and Industrial Detergents (08/18/2010):   EPA released action plans today to address the potential health risks of benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). The chemicals are widely used in both consumer and industrial applications, including dyes, flame retardants, and industrial laundry detergents. The plans identify a range of actions the agency is considering under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Benzidine dyes are used in the production of consumer textiles, paints, printing inks, paper, and pharmaceuticals and may pose health problems, including cancer.  HBCD is used as a flame retardant in expanded polystyrene foam in the building and construction industry, as well as in some consumer products.  HBCD has been shown to be persistent and bioaccumulative in the environment and may pose potential reproductive, developmental, and neurological effects in people. NP/NPEs are used in many industrial applications and consumer products such as detergents, cleaners, agricultural and indoor pesticides, as well as food packaging. These chemicals have been detected in people.

The range of actions on these chemicals include adding HBCD and NP/NPE to EPA’s new Chemicals of Concern list, issuing significant new use rules for all three chemicals, and, for HBCD and benzidine dyes, imposing new reporting requirements on EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory and potentially banning or limiting the manufacture or use of the chemicals.

In addition to EPA’s efforts, the Textile Rental Services Association, which represents 98 percent of the industrial laundry facilities in the U.S., has committed to voluntarily phase out the use of NPEs in industrial liquid detergents by Dec. 31, 2013 and industrial powder detergents by the end of 2014. “While EPA intends to address the potential risks associated with these chemicals,” Owens stated, “we are pleased that the industrial laundry industry has decided to not wait for regulatory action to be completed by the agency and is voluntarily taking steps now to phase out the use of NPEs.”

Additional information: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals