Martha E. Marrapese

Martha is a sought-out legal and policy advisor on matters where innovation and environmental protection intersect.  She is a recognized leader on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) matters. Martha provides strategic counseling to clients on how to navigate TSCA’s new chemical program, effectively negotiates consent orders on their behalf, and advises on how to best protect confidential business information (CBI) in TSCA submissions.  She assists clients navigate EPA’s existing chemical prioritization, risk evaluation and risk management process and advocates for reasonable workplace requirements associated with their condition of use. 

Martha is a leading expert on federal and state regulations for reporting and restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  Martha advises on extended producer responsibility programs and recycling with respect to plastic and electronic waste. Her knowledge and experience with respect to bio-based chemicals, nanomaterials, and chemicals essential for battery innovation such as cathode active materials (CAMs) and electrolyte ingredients and how chemical regulations affect downstream users is highly relevant in today’s regulatory environment.

Representative Matters

• 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.

Professional Experience

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

Affiliations

• American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Past Co-Chair, Special Committee on Congressional Relations
  • Past Chair, Pesticide, Chemical Regulation and Right-to-Know Committee, Section of
    Environment, Energy and Resources
•  Environmental Law Institute
  • Board Member

Recognitions

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America directory for Environmental Law (2024-2025)
• Named one of 500 Leading Environmental and Energy Lawyers by Lawdragon (2021, 2023-2025)
• Recognized in The Legal 500 US as a "Recommended Lawyer" in Environment (2023, 2024)
• Listed by Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in Environment
  (2020-2024)
• Included in Who’s Who Legal: Environment & Climate Change (2022-2023)
• Recognized as one of the nation’s top “Energy & Environment Trailblazers” by The National Law Journal (2018)