Press Release 6/22/17

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalization of three new rules required under the new Toxic Substances Control Act that was enacted one year ago today:

“Last year, Democrats and Republicans came together to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act and offer real protections for the public.  Today’s rules from EPA undermine those protections and the bipartisan intent of the Lautenberg Act.  Under these rules, it appears that Administrator Pruitt intends to ignore more chemical uses and exposures at every stage of the regulatory process.  In an apparent handout to industry, EPA is committing to labeling as many chemicals safe as possible in order to avoid review.  Instead, the agency should be focusing its resources on identifying and restricting dangerous chemicals.  As someone who worked to strengthen this law, I’m deeply disappointed by these final rules.”

Yesterday, Pallone sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt raising serious concerns over allegations that the final TSCA framework rules were rewritten by former American Chemistry Council lobbyist Dr. Nancy Beck who now serves as EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP).