Just days into Trump’s second term, Republicans in Congress moved to roll back EPA restrictions on the toxic solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) while industry representatives pushed for a faster approval process for new chemicals.
Britt E. Erickson reports for C&EN.
In short:
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony from chemical industry leaders claiming that the EPA’s precautionary approach to regulating chemicals is unnecessarily restrictive and out of step with global standards.
- Republicans introduced a resolution to overturn the EPA’s new rule on TCE, using the Congressional Review Act to potentially gut environmental protections.
- The Government Accountability Office found that the EPA meets its 90-day deadline for chemical reviews less than 10% of the time, a delay industry blames on regulatory bottlenecks but watchdogs attribute to companies withholding key toxicity data.
Key quote:
“American innovation relies on new chemicals entering commerce in a timely, predictable manner.”
— Chris Jahn, president and CEO, American Chemistry Council
Why this matters:
Loosening chemical regulations could expose the public to hazardous substances linked to cancer, birth defects and myriad other health risks. At the heart of the fight is whether chemical safety will be dictated by independent science or corporate influence.
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