The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published final significant new use rules (SNURs) relating to long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemicals. It also makes inapplicable the exemption for persons who import a subset of LCPFAC chemicals as part of a surface coating on articles.

The Final Rule contains a number of important changes relating to 40 CFR Part 721 ‘Significant New Uses of Chemical Substances’. These include:

• Amendment to §721.9582 ‘Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates’ – requires imported carpets containing the listed perfluoroalkyl sulfonates to submit a significant new use notice (SNUN)
• Completely new requirements for SNUs under §721.10536 ‘Long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate chemical substances’ – these SNUs relate to:

-     Manufacture/import or processing of LCPFAC chemicals in §721.10536(b)(1) for use as part of carpets or to treat carpets (e.g. for use in the carpet aftercare market)

-     Manufacture/import or processing of (20) LCPFAC chemicals in Table 1 to §721.10536(b)(2) for any use after December 31, 2015

-     Manufacture/import or processing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, including those in Table 2 to §721.10536(b)(3), for any use

-     Manufacture/import or processing of LCPFAC chemicals, except for the (20) LCPFAC chemicals in Table 1 to §721.10536(b)(2), for any use other than the use already described in sub-bullet point 1 above

• Allowing LCPFAC chemicals, including the (20) LCPFAC chemicals in Table 1 of §721.10536(b)(2) as well as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, including those in Table 2 of §721.10536(b)(3), to be used in antireflective coatings, photoresists, or surfactants in photo microlithography and semiconductors or similar components of electronic or other miniaturized devices, without reporting as these are not considered as SNUs
• Providing a list of specific LCPFAC chemicals as well as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts with defined uses that are not considered as SNUs and will not be subject to reporting
• Revokes SNUN exemptions for a person who imports the following:

-     Carpets containing an LCPFAC chemical listed in §721.10536(b)(1)

-     Articles with a surface coating containing an LCPFAC chemical in Table 1 to §721.10536(b)(2) or PFOA and its salts, including those in Table 2 to §721.10536(b)(3)

‘Article’ is defined in 40 CFR 704.3 as a manufactured item which:

• Is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture
• Has end use function(s) dependent in whole or in part upon its shape or design during end use
• Has either no change of chemical composition during its end use or only those changes of composition which have no commercial purpose separate from that of the article, and that result from a chemical reaction that occurs upon end use of other chemical substances, mixtures, or articles; except that fluids and particles are not considered articles regardless of shape or design

Examples of articles with a surface coating may include:

• Apparel
• Automotive components
• Carpets
• Electronic components
• Furniture
• Outdoor equipment

The Final Rule was published in July 2020. It requires persons to notify the EPA at least 90-days before commencing the manufacture, import, or processing of LCPFAC and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemicals for SNUs – December 24, 2020.

Notification will initiate an EPA evaluation of the conditions of use in relation to the SNU. Manufacturing, importing, or processing cannot commence until the outcome of the review and the completion of any required actions.

Stakeholders should be aware this Final Rule excludes ongoing use as these are not the subject to the SNUR.

It came into effect on September 25, 2020.

SGS Consumer Products Services

Through a global network of state-of-the-art laboratories, SGS offers consultation and comprehensive testing services (physical/mechanical, chemical, flammability, electrical safety, etc) covering the full spectrum of international product safety and regulatory standards for a wide range of consumer products. Learn more about SGS’s Consumer Products Services. [www.sgs.com/cgnr]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US EPA Issues Amended SNUR for LCPFAC and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate Chemicals SafeGuardS.

Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.​

National News - New Book Journey 2 Consciousness: C’est Lie (that's life) wins # 1 in African Poetry Category on Amazon.com and # 2 Bestseller in New Book Releases. Prepare yourself as you embark on a journey to self-love, self-empowerment, and knowledge of self. Ebook PREORDERS are available now on Amazon Release on October 6, 2020!

We are truly the manifestation of our ancestors’ imagination. The goal of “Journey 2 Consciousness: C'est La Vie” book is to inspire, hustle, and motivate. In this book, we will discover what love, success, failure, struggle, and power mean in our lives through poetry, reflective journaling, positive affirmations, and everything hip-hop.

This book is a product of Hip Hop culture and serves as an encouraging reminder to those who feel lost—that things will be okay, and you will reach your desired destination. We must learn and grow from our mistakes. Therefore, never give up! It's time to wake up and level up because our time is now! It is a never ending journey. We can't be free until we are all free! Respect to the legends of our culture.

Rest in power 2pac and Nipsey Hussle. If it wasn't for your words, this book would have never been written.

About Author: Kendrick Duwa Chea is a global citizen. A 90s baby born in New York who was raised with the values of his Haitian & Liberian family. He is a Pan African by birth not by choice. Chea believes that life’s experiences are the best teacher. Knowledge of self, self-empowerment, & self-love are the values that he stands for and guides his life journey. Journey 2 Consciousness: C'est La Vie is his first published work of art.

PREORDERS your ebook now on Amazon for October 6, 2020 Release! To get your copy(s) today visit Amazon.com to purchase book today at: https://tinyurl.com/NewBookJourney2Consciousness

Media Contact:
WA Public Relations Company
1-347-727-9015
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Clarity Surgical is proud to announce their newest hire: Dr. Owen Pyke, MD!

Long Island, NY - USA, September 25, 2020 -- Clarity Surgical is proud to announce their newest hire: Dr. Owen Pyke, MD! He joined the Clarity Surgical team on September 8th and will be taking on the role of general and weight loss surgeon.

Dr. Owen Pyke originally hails from the island nation of Jamaica. His family immigrated to the US when he was young, settling in Queens and later Long Island. He graduated from Amherst College with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. From there, he did his graduate studies at Stony Brook University. He completed a masters in public health and a joint MD/MBA program.

After medical school, he decided to pursue a career as a surgeon. He did his residency at Stony Brook Medical Center and later did a fellowship in Bariatric, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery at NYU Winthrop Hospital, under the tutelage of Drs Colin Brathwaite and Jun Levine.

“We’re honored to have Dr. Pyke join our team. His experience speaks for itself and we’re excited to have him on board,” says Jessica Reyes, Clarity Surgical’s director of operations. “As our clientele grows, we need more surgeons to help serve our communities effectively. Dr. Pyke is a skilled surgeon and, more importantly, a great human being. We can’t be any more proud to welcome him to the team.”

His experience goes beyond surgery. Dr. Pyke spent seven weeks in Ghana doing a clinical rotation during medical school. Later on, during his residency, Dr. Pyke attended a conference in Ghana, serving as the co-chair of sessions between doctors from both the United States and Ghana. These sessions allowed for greater communication between physicians from both countries to help highlight potential areas of collaboration between the two countries. “Dr. Pyke’s commitment to service and to the welfare of his community is a true attribute,” says Dr. Charles Thompson III, founder and chief surgeon at Clarity Surgical.

Dr. Pyke’s understanding that weight loss surgery can help put comorbidities into remission, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea, made it a good choice for him. He saw that weight loss surgery, especially in patients with serious comorbidities, has the potential to lower all cause mortality for them.

Dr. Pyke’s rigorous training in general surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Center has equipped him well to compassionately care for patients. During his time at Stony Brook, Dr. Pyke’s areas of research interest broadened to include health literacy, surgical education, global surgery, and obesity surgery, particularly in the management of anastomotic ulcers.

We, at Clarity Surgical, are proud to welcome Dr. Owen Pyke to our team of surgeons!

Press & Media Contact:
Clarity Surgical and Weight Loss Solutions
33 Walt Whitman Rd, Suite 300B,
Huntington Station, NY 11746
United States
+1 516-259-2525
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https://www.claritysurgicalny.com

Mathematics, statistics and probability can be difficult concepts for children to grasp, even in normal teaching settings. With distance and “virtual” learning the norm for many this fall, the challenge of understanding these and other academic disciplines may be even greater. Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the leader in sports simulation games, has helped launch “Strat School,” a FREE platform which will help kids, especially budding sports fans, learn basics and even more advanced math, writing and more through its new series of lesson plans aimed at kids ages 6- 9 and ages 10 and up.

Strat-O-Matic offers detailed lesson plans for teachers and parents interested in using the game as a teaching device. For kids ages 6-9, Strat-O-Matic Baseball Express helps children learn about making decisions using probability, computing statistics like batting average and ERA, and developing writing skills with simple game recaps, among others. For ages 10 and up, Strat-O-Matic Baseball takes it to the next level, with higher math and statistics, emphasis on the quick computation that comes with each dice roll and ways to encourage students to learn more about the players from sets like the Hall of Famers, and even about the civil rights movement through Strat’s Negro League Stars.

The skills that kids can learn while playing Strat-O-Matic board games come naturally. How often is this particular batter likely to get a hit or home run? Which relief pitcher would be most effective against the upcoming batter? How is ERA calculated? What are the key moments of the game to include in a written recap? What more can students learn about particular historically significant players? In the fun environment of playing Strat-O-Matic baseball, all of these educational benefits are possible.

“Playing Strat-O-Matic has always been a great way for kids to enhance important skills almost unconsciously,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “By following our comprehensive plans, teachers and parents can help them stay engaged as they learn not just the math and statistics that are inherent to game play, but lessons like writing and history that are natural extensions of enjoying the game.” 

Those interested in learning more about how Strat-O-Matic can be a valuable teaching tool can contact Strat-O-Matic at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A series of short videos highlighting some of these benefits are available on the Strat-O-Matic YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/StratOMaticMarketing. 

About Strat-O-Matic

Strat-O-Matic was invented by 11-year-old Hal Richman in his bedroom in Great Neck, N.Y. in 1948 as a result of his frustration with the statistical randomness of other baseball board games. He discovered that the statistical predictability of dice would give his game the realism he craved. Over the next decade, he perfected the game at summer camp and then as a student at Bucknell University. After producing All-Star sets in 1961 and ‘62, he parlayed a $5,000 loan from his father (and made a deal that if it didn’t work out he would work for his father’s insurance company) into the original 1962 Strat-O-Matic Baseball season game. Needless to say, Hal never had to take a job with his father.

Strat-O-Matic, based in Glen Head, NY and on the Internet at www.strat-o-matic.com, manufactures the top selling sports board games and realism/stats sports digital games. The Company publishes baseball, football, basketball and hockey games to play both on and off your computer and mobile screens. “Strat-O” games are known throughout the sports community for their statistical realism and accuracy. The Company has the world’s greatest sports game stat libraries with top-of-the-line seasons dating back to the early 1900’s. At the start of the 2016 MLB season, Strat-O-Matic introduced Baseball Daily, its first product featuring digital player cards that update every day to reflect real life current player performance as the season progresses.

The Company has a loyal celebrity following including a bevy of sports broadcasters such as Bob Costas, Jon Miller and Dan Shulman, former MLB’ers Keith Hernandez, Doug Glanville and Cal Ripken Jr., and sports super fans including Drew Carey, Ben Bernanke, Bryant Gumbel, Spike Lee and Tim Robbins. More information is available at: www.strat-o-matic.com.