Toxics

Despite calls from GOP lawmakers and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), EPA appears to have buried the handbook describing how its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program conducts its risk analyses as officials in the research and toxics offices battle over a key assessment method and a system for characterizing non-cancer risks.

Chemical manufacturers and other industrial waste generators are signaling they plan to fight efforts by water utilities, airport operators and other groups that are seeking narrow, sector-specific waivers from cleanup liability should policymakers list per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law.

EPA’s science advisors are expressing frustration over the agency’s failure to provide adequate information over its controversial proposal requiring that only research whose underlying data is publicly available can be used for regulatory purposes, warning at a recent meeting that the officials’ failure may prevent them from providing advice.

EPA is seeking comment on a pair of chemical industry requests asking the agency to assess the risks of two phthalate chemicals, requests that will pose first-time tests for the agency on whether and how it conducts such analysis under the revised toxics law and whether any negative EPA risk finding preempts existing state and federal requirements.