Short Takes – 6-5-25

Europe’s far-reaching Space Act nears launch. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “While details of the incoming law remain under wraps, legal experts anticipate a move away from voluntary guidance toward binding obligations in key areas such as space sustainability, safety, resilience and security.”

Elon Musk's SpaceX to build its own advanced chip packaging factory in Texas – 700mm x 700mm substrate size purported to be the largest in the industry. TomsHardware.com article. Pull quote: “SpaceX’s entry with FOPLP will give manufacturers more American-made options, especially as this technique is more suitable for aerospace, communications, and space industries. Although they’re not as sexy as cutting-edge chip fabs, like the ones that TSMC operates, packaging plants are just as crucial in the semiconductor supply chain. That’s because they are the ones that turn semiconductors into usable chips, ready for installation on PCBs and other electronics that are practically found everywhere.”

EPA’s Safer Choice survives, diminished. CEN.ACS.org article. Pull quote: “Tickner credits Safer Choice’s reprieve in part to a vigorous campaign this spring by chemical manufacturers, consumer product makers, retailers, and public advocacy groups. “Other than Energy Star, I can't think of another program at EPA that has such broad-ranging support, where you can get BASF and moms against toxics on the same letter,” he says.”

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP); Draft Risk Evaluations Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Notice of Availability and Request for Comment. Federal Register EPA notice. Summary: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on the draft risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) (CASRN 84-74-2) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) (CARSN 117-81-7). The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use, including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, and without consideration of costs or non-risk factors. EPA used the best available science to prepare this draft risk evaluation and to preliminarily determine, based on the weight of scientific evidence, that DBP and DEHP present unreasonable risk to health and the environment driven primarily by certain conditions of use analyzed in the draft evaluations.” Comments due: August 4^th, 2025.