Trump's EPA is 'dangerously off the rails' on toxic chemical regulation, say senators
Source: The Guardian
Trump's EPA is 'dangerously off the rails' on toxic chemical regulation, say senators
Five Democrats say Trump officials have failed to ensure chemicals used in everyday products and materials are safe for humans
Emily Holden in Washington
Fri 21 Jun 2019 17.19 BST Last modified on Fri 21 Jun 2019 19.46 BST
Senate Democrats are charging that the Trump administration has gone “dangerously off the rails”, in failing to implement landmark legislation meant to protect people from toxic chemicals.
In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, five senators say Trump officials are ignoring new authorities made available to them, favoring the chemical industry over the health of Americans. The senators are presidential candidate Cory Booker, Tom Udall, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley and Sheldon Whitehouse.
In 2016, Congress amended the Toxic Substances Control Act, aiming to fix structural problems with the 1976 law and give the EPA more powers to ensure chemicals used in everyday products and materials are safe for humans and the environment. Research has shown health risks in products ranging from nail polish to plastic food packaging.
“Among the reforms included in the law were key requirements to protect vulnerable populations – including children, pregnant women, the elderly and chemical industry workers – and to evaluate and review the safety of all new and existing chemicals on the market,” said a press release from the senators.
They say they are raising serious concerns about Trump’s EPA undermining the intent of the law “by weakening or openly violating critical safeguards, including allowing chemicals onto the market without reviewing critical information about risks to public health”.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/21/epa-trump-toxic-chemicals-regulation-off-rails-under-senators-say
