tsca
Credit: TexasGOPVote.com/Flickr
EPA must increase transparency on chemical reviews, judge rules
A federal judge in D.C. has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to disclose more information about chemicals under review, siding with environmental groups who argued that the current lack of transparency compromises public safety.
In short:
- A Washington, D.C. judge ruled that the EPA must release non-confidential information about chemicals within five days of receiving an application under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
- Environmental groups successfully challenged EPA's practices, arguing they were too secretive, allowing companies to withhold critical information.
- The judge emphasized that the public has an enduring right to information, similar to rights under the Freedom of Information Act.
Key quote:
"The law mandates timely public access to robust information about new chemicals entering the marketplace to which we may be exposed."
— Samantha Liskow, lead counsel for Healthy Communities at EDF
Why this matters:
The EPA has often kept details about chemicals under wraps, citing concerns about trade secrets, but this ruling insists that the public has a right to know more about what's potentially lurking in everyday products. Read more: EPA announces stricter rules to prevent chemicals incidents.
Keep reading...Show less
Eugene Robinson: Carbon is a toxic substance. We should regulate it that way
The situation is dire, but some advocates have advanced a creative new way to help heal the planet.
She’s supposed to protect Americans from toxic chemicals. First, she just has to fix Trump's mess and decades of neglect
Biden promised to prioritize people over polluters. His pick to deliver that, Michal Freedhoff, is facing a bare-bones budget, demoralized staff and increasingly angry advocates.
cen.acs.org
Biden calls for review of recent EPA actions
Decisions on chemical risks, pesticides, and science under scrutiny.
www.politico.com
EPA bulldog stares down agency watchdog
Ryan Jackson finds himself facing off with EPA's acting inspector general.
Climate talks to focus on emission-trading rules while pressure builds for stronger controls
This year's international negotiations to stem climate change will include makeup work that was supposed to be completed in December.
thehill.com
Internal emails show EPA working to limit agency's use of science
Environmental Protection Agency political staffers have been working to internally replicate through agency action a bill that would restrict the kind of science that the EPA can use when writing regulations, internal emails show.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
