Martha Marrapese

Practice Areas

Martha is a sought-out legal and policy advisor on matters where technological advancement, environmental protection, and governance intersect. Her clients are solving today’s major environmental security issues including climate change, PFAS contamination, and ocean plastics. Martha frequently consults on chemical control under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as well as initiatives that advance bio-based, sustainable products. Her expertise lies in chemical regulation to help clients open markets and help to keep them open. She is sought-out by clients who need to secure new chemical approvals in a timely way with freedom to operate.

Martha’s experience makes her ideally suited to counsel corporations most likely to experience growth in relation to the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives on climate, renewable energy, and national goals to curb plastic waste. These government initiatives will directly result in the need for TSCA support in areas such as electric batteries, bio-based plastics, and products enabled through nanotechnology. A more comprehensive approach to EPA risk evaluations and risk management of existing chemicals under the current Administration makes her experience in negotiating consent orders on chemicals with respect to workplace requirements and downstream processing highly relevant in today’s regulatory environment.

Career

U.S. Delegate, International Standards Organization, Committee on Nanotechnologies (2005-2013) Chair, Working Group 1 Nomenclature and Terminology, U.S. Technical Advisory Group

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association (ABA), Environmental Law Institute

Experience

Represent and advise Downstream User Coalition on TSCA risk evaluations.

Intervening counsel in Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families v. EPA, No. 17-72260 (9th Cir. 2019).

Successfully obtained one of the last Low Volume Exemption (LVE) grants under TSCA for a PFAS chemical.

Regularly assists manufacturers of genetically modified yeast, algae, bacteria, and plant-based products in addressing rules on notification, taxonomy, transport, and chemical identity.

Among the first attorneys to help carbon nanotube and nanocellulose manufacturers obtain approval for their innovations under TSCA.

Successful defense of the right to immediately commercialize nanomaterials under section 8(a). Advocacy efforts included favorable non-reporting ruling by EPA for emulsion polymers.

Education