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December 19, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Experts reject EPA plan to test for WTC dust contamination
Energy agency forecasts higher oil prices
NIH to build cancer genome atlas
Federal recycling law for electronic waste needed
Government & Policy Roundup
Clashing Over Hazmat Shipping
Banning hazardous materials on certain rail routes would not eliminate risks, industry officials argue.
Crunching Data
NRC panel is studying how EPA should select and use models for regulatory decision.
Your Government Inaction
Management turnovers and politics have stymied progress this year.
December 12, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
NIH streamlines peer review
FTC calls ethanol market competitive
Businesses urged to plan for pandemic
Supreme Court declines nuclear waste case
Government & Policy Roundup
First In The Nation
New Jersey mandates chemical plant security measures to guard against terrorist attacks.
December 5, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Nanotech safety database unveiled
Coast Guard notifies industry of data deadline
EPA announces plans for WTC dust cleanup
DuPont, EPA agree to settle PFOA case
Ethanol industry surpasses key production goal
Nanotech's Safety Risks
House Science Committee holds hearing to ensure risks of small technology aren't being ignored.
Push On Hill For Fuel Independence
Lawmakers seek to cut U.S. demand for oil, boost biofuels and alternative-technology vehicles.
November 28, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Five chemicals pass hurdle for control under POPs treaty
NAS warns on patenting genes and proteins
Tamiflu use unrelated to deaths, FDA says
State of Washington angry over delays at Hanford
Government Roundup
R&D Funding Tries To Keep Pace
Federal spending on research for fiscal 2006 is expected to rise slightly.
November 21, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
High prices and disruptions cut U.S. gas consumption this year
ACC and OSHA work to advance health and safety
Criminal investigations down at EPA
More tests are needed at chemical arms disposal plant
Government & Policy Roundup
Encouraging Team Science
OSTP is facilitating plans to have more than one PI named on a federally funded research grant.
Red Flag Research
Industry-sponsored academic research is heading down a treacherous path.
November 14, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Energy spending set for 2006
Parliament eases REACH requirements
EPA to ban two foam-blowing compounds
DOE to trim uranium stockpile
EPA deems Superfund sites in Louisiana okay after hurricanes
Hurricanes Revive Fight Over Drilling
Prospects for boosting gas and oil production improve as energy prices soar to record levels.
November 7, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Spent nuclear fuel recycling studied
Bill allows U.S. to remain on space station
Refineries urged to keep trailers at safe distances
Modest cuts in CO2 could cost $1.00 per ton
Government Roundup
Chemical Weapons Disposal
Civil unrest may undermine construction of Russian facility
October 31, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
DOE runs behind on cleanup of Hanford waste
EPA reopens comments on mercury rule
Electronic trash exported to Africa
Activists oppose DOE plan for plutonium
Government Roundup
Reporting Toxic Chemicals
EPA announces plans to lighten industry's load for reporting data
Materials For Space
NASA readies chemical and mechanical fixes in anticipation of inadvertent damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system
October 24, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Rail Competition
Rail shippers push Congress to increase competition in the freight rail marketplace
October 17, 2005
Government & Policy Concentrates
Cyber-Enabled Chemistry
NSF encourages researchers and educators to apply information technology
Insights
Chief Justice William Rehnquist left the Supreme Court a lasting influence on environmental issues
October 10, 2005
Government Concentrates
Ralph J. Cicerone
New president of the National Academy of Sciences and chairman of the National Research Council speaks about his plans
Minorities in Science
Meeting focuses on strategies to encourage underrepresented groups
Chemical Intolerance
Drug addiction shows striking similarities to hypersensitivity
October 3, 2005
Government Concentrates
Energy Policy
After Katrina, stakeholders push to expand oil and gas production, construct additional refineries
September 26, 2005
Government Concentrates
Bayh-Dole Act
Technology transfer by universities has thrived under legislation passed 25 years ago
Environment
Federal agencies seek new policies to address perchlorate pollution
Pollution In China
Violent villager uprisings over industrial pollution force China to face its environmental problems
September 19, 2005
Government Concentrates
Chemical Regulation
Governments cooperate on an official road map to managing chemicals safely
Future Of Security
Academic labs lag behind chemical industry in addressing security concerns
PubChem Debate
Officials from ACS and NIH continue to work to resolve differences over database
Insights
Is it time to rethink the peer review system?
September 12, 2005
Government Concentrates
Ethanol Policy
Despite criticism, legislation increases use of the corn-derived biofuel
September 5, 2005
Government Concentrates
Tainted Case
Ruling in Methanex suit has far-reaching implications
Patent Reforms
Congress begins the process of updating the U.S. patent system
August 29, 2005
Scientific Misconduct
Rules are now in place, but new issues have arisen that threaten the scientific community
Government Concentrates
August 22, 2005
Congressional Influence
Congress uses purse strings to shape EPA activities on pesticides, chemicals, and research
Hydrogen Policy
Steven G. Chalk and Joseph J. Romm face off on hydrogen's role in future energy security
Government Concentrates
August 15, 2005
Biodefense Lab
Critics worry that homeland security research may breach provisions of bioweapons treaty
Energy Policy
Despite new legislation, concerns remain about natural gas supply
Insights
Learning the reasons for increased cancers, birth defects, and other diseases may depend on Congress' funding of the next CDC children's study
Government Concentrates
August 8, 2005
Review Time
Congress moves to reauthorize the National Institutes of Health
Toxic Substances Control Act
Legislation to overhaul the way chemicals are regulated in the U.S. meets sharp criticism from chemical industry
Government Concentrates
August 1, 2005
Pesticide Testing on Humans
Growing number of experiments raise ethical, legal, and scientific questions
Government Concentrates
July 25, 2005
Labor Unions
Plant shutdowns, layoffs, outsourcing, and antiunion climate challenge chemical worker unions
Stem Cells
Push to fund alternative sources raises policy concerns
Government Concentrates
July 18, 2005
Smooth Delivery
Government hopes to ease nanomaterials' move to the market
Government Concentrates
July 11, 2005
Energy Legislation
Committee must hammer out significant differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills
Climate Change
States and cities act to reduce greenhouse gases
Government Concentrates
July 4, 2005
Plant Debate
House and Senate split on the need for a chemical plant security bill
Research At NASA
Agency adopts new organizational structure and shifts scientific R&D to be in line with the President’s challenges
Government Concentrates
June 27, 2005
Trial Run
EU governments and industry prepare for implementation of REACH legislation
Safety Record
Advisory panel uncovers widespread dissatisfaction with FDA's drug monitoring system
Government Concentrates
June 20, 2005
Government Concentrates
June 13, 2005
PubChem Quarrel
ACS and NIH wrangle over scope of NIH's database, which ACS contends duplicates its CAS Registry
Government Concentrates
June 6, 2005
Nuclear Waste
Plans advance for interim storage facility as spent fuel mounts and Yucca Mountain stalls
Government Concentrates
May 30, 2005
Biosheild II
Senators unveil updated bioterrorism legislation that offers incentives for drug and biotech firms to do biodefense R&D
Government Concentrates
Bill would curb pesticide studies on humans
Utilities move closer to own nuclear waste site
State Department names science fellows
Two tapped to fill NSF, NIST posts
Lead cited as number one toxic release
May 23, 2005
International Labeling
Global system for classifying and labeling chemicals could facilitate trade and protect human health
Lab Safety
Fire in Ohio State lab underscores the importance of safety training in academia
VX Disposal
As destruction of deadly nerve agent begins in Indiana, secondary treatment poses difficulties
Government Concentrates
Railroad safety plan announced
NIH acts to retain two top scientists
EPA's mercury rule challenged
Governor urges hold on new Gulf LNG terminals
Government & Policy Roundup
May 16, 2005
FDA Forum
Researchers exchange information on critical health issues
Insights
Spending on pressing public health issues should take priority over esoteric biodefense spending
Government Concentrates
White House wins energy panel suit
Boston University, medical center cited by OSHA
Court orders solvent off TRI
Four chemicals targeted for phaseout
Government & Policy Roundup
May 9, 2005
Science Policy
Forum paints a gloomy picture for the near future of federal R&D funding
Plant Security
Hearing before Senate committee exposes chemical plant vulnerabilities, calls for legislation
Hindsights
Economic recovery may be in effect, but there has been little or no job growth in more than fouryears
Government Concentrates
Appeals court blocks D.C. hazardous rail shipment law
Senators urge increase for DOE Science Office
Estimates of Superfund gains criticized
Recision of restrictive HHS policies sought
Government & Policy Roundup
May 2, 2005
Persistent Organic Pollutants
At an international meeting on chemicals this week, the U.S. will have no vote
Global Warming
Efforts to protect ozone layer from CFCs also help protect climate
Twenty-Year Mark
Australia Group works to stem the spread of chemical and biological weapons
Government Concentrates
Chemical plant security aired
$5 million fine for nuclear plant violations
Mercury rule estimates are off, CRS says
OPCW inspectors visit Anniston
Climate-change program fails to report
April 25, 2005
Liquefied Natural Gas
Producers and users hope that importing LNG leads to a future of price and supply stability and better profits
Space Complications
Iran Nonproliferation Act could limit NASA's access to the International Space Station
Government Concentrates
Berkeley lab contract awarded
Asbestos bill introduced
Pilot study set for mercury-cell chlorine plant
Study rules out consumer goods as PFOA source
U.S. plan for Earth-observing system
April 18, 2005
Chemistry At NSF
Officials discuss budget, new initiatives, and upcoming challenges
Insights
NIH researchers face restrictions on their professional and personal lives
Government Concentrates
Canada, EU impose sanctions over U.S. antidumping fees
Griffin gets Senate vote to head NASA
Placards to remain on railcars
Drug imports can undermine consumer safety
Government & Policy Roundup
April 11, 2005
Counterterrorism
New Jersey and Contra Costa County, Calif., move ahead with regional plantsecurity measures
Government Concentrates
NAS warns of terrorist attack on spent nuclear fuel
Intelligence report urges scientific input
GAO warns on funding conflicts
EPA nominee runs into a snag
CDC concerned about Army's VX disposal
April 4, 2005
Bird Flu
Fear of a pandemic prompts scrutiny of U.S. preparedness
GlobalChem Conference
European regulations, nanomaterials, and biomonitoring are big-ticket concerns for industry
Government Concentrates
Chemical safety board investigates Texas refinery blast
PCAST looks at nanotech
States sue to block EPA mercury rule
Rule on 'select agents' issued
Government & Policy Roundup
March 28, 2005
Meth Lab Pollution
Congressional bill authorizes research to address cleanup of illicit methamphetamine labs
Stem Cell Funding
Growing state support leads to competition for talented researchers
Government Concentrates
Panel urges postdoc reforms
Unapproved modified corn wrongly sold
FDA issues guidelines for personalized medicines
U.S. settles major air pollution case
Government & Policy Roundup
March 21, 2005
Rail Safety
Legal battles follow a far-reaching law restricting shipments of "ultra-hazardous" materials near the U.S. Capitol
Homeland Security
Senate committee scrutinizes department's 2006 budget
Government Concentrates
Agent orange case dismissed
Michael Griffin picked for NASA
Chemical data effort expanded
Senate backs Arctic Refuge oil drilling
Government & Policy Roundup
March 14, 2005
Emission Controls
Power generators are split over how emission credits should be disbursed
Hindsights
Professional women have made significant progress that should dispel any alleged intellectual inadequacies
Government Concentrates
NIH scientists offer alternative conflict-of-interest plan
EPA's mercury analysis biased, GAO says
Less acrylamide in food sought
White House directs agencies to relax rules
Power plants sign pollution settlement
March 7, 2005
Open Access
Richard J. Roberts and Peter Banks debate publishing policies for online scientific papers
Chemical Weapons
Pentagon is digging a hole by siphoning future-oriented funding to keep three incinerators working
Patent Law
Case could clarify how and what sources will be used by courts to define terms in patent claims
Government Concentrates
Academy urges more oversight of DOE modifications to cleanup plans
DHS announces grants to secure chemical, nuclear facilities
Utah nuclear waste site moves ahead
Countries seek mercury cuts
Government & Policy Roundup
February 28, 2005
Risk Review
EPA braces for a slew of data on hundreds of high-production-volume chemicals
Mercury Regulations
Decades pass before coal-fired utilities must install technology to reduce mercury emissions
Government Concentrates
Shorter processing time for visas
Science, Technology Medals awarded
Bill opponents hand over tax records
Supplier shares blame for accident
Government & Policy Roundup
February 21, 2005
Federal R&D
Proposed fiscal 2006 budget favors security and defense
Asbestos Litigation
Concerns about fraudulent silica claims complicate proposed trust fund
Insights
Among federal agencies, NIH appears alone in conflict-of-interest woes
Government Concentrates
Clear Skies vote postponed
Railroad seeks to overturn shipments ban
Yucca Mountain repository delayed again
U.S is slipping in research and innovation
Government & Policy Roundup
February 14, 2005
Biodefense
Boost in grants for biodefense research and labs may be better spent on other public health needs
Air Pollution
Fate of Clear Skies initiative rests on a divided Senate panel
Hindsights
Payroll and employment growth remain weak
Government Concentrates
Ralph Cicerone elected NAS president
EPA hit for mercury air standard
Asbestos bill stumbles in Senate
Superfund value put at $3.6 billion annually
Government & Policy Roundup
February 7, 2005
New Look At MSDSS
Safety sheets will get increased scrutiny following years of criticism over their accuracy
Government Concentrates
NIH puts in place open-access policy
EPA to review software on new chemicals
Senate backs Bodman for Energy post
Chemical treaty to allow arms plants switch
Viruses included in 11th 'Report on Carcinogens'
EPA, Justice settle with ConocoPhillips
January 31, 2005
Congressional Outlook
New Congress will struggle with national security, energy policy, Social Security reforms, and record federal deficits
Government Concentrates
Number of chemistry Ph.D.s rising
DOE cites laws limiting natural gas output
EPA proposes changes to chemical reports
BU researchers exposed to deadly bacterium
Government & Policy Roundup
January 24, 2005
Clean Air
EPA guidance on exempting volatile organic compounds from regulation worries some environmental groups
Bhopal Today
Tragic accident at Union Carbide plant in India is still fresh in residents' minds and lives more than 20 years later
Process Safety Since Bhopal
Experts worry that lessons learned from the accident are not being fully implemented
Government Concentrates
Army considers shipping chemical arms to Utah for disposal
Safety board backs new oil-field waste practices
HHS report targets medical innovations
Easing the federal research grant process
Government & Policy Roundup
January 17, 2005
Methyl Bromide
Use of ozone-depleting fumigant is rising despite agreement to phase it out
Insights
To prevent funding cuts, researchers need to understand how to sell science to Congress
Government Concentrates
Bribe costs Monsanto $1.5 million
Patent office lists companies by most patents
EPA issues draft risk assessment on PFOA
North American power plant air emissions compared
Government & Policy Roundup
January 10, 2005
Government Concentrates
Energy Debate
Expert commission seeks more federal spending, mandatory CO2 emissions caps, and tougher auto fuel standards
January 3, 2005
Government Concentrates
NIH Chemistry Programs
Two new research initiatives highlight agency's commitment to chemical research
