Miller and Babin Question EPA’s Scientific Integrity in Chemical Assessments

Press Release

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“EPA credited this decision to a mutual agreement between ORD and Region 6, citing a July 2021 email in which the Region 6 Office rescinded its nomination for a scientific review of chloroprene. This email went to extensive lengths to highlight Region 6’s opinion that the current IRIS assessment for chloroprene ‘continues to reflect the state-of-the-science’ and its view that there are no concerns or questions about the ‘validity, quality, or scientific rigor’ of the assessment.

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It appears that ORD officials, in an apparent effort to build a fabricated scientific record, authored the email withdrawing the request for scientific review on behalf of Region 6, which had previously determined a scientific review necessary. If ORD drafted email communications on behalf of Region 6 officials in an effort to suppress or alter further scientific review of chloroprene under the IRIS program than it is likely one or more of the White House’s and EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policies have been violated.

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Ultimately, these actions undertaken by ORD could call into question the validity of the IRIS selection process – and specifically the role of political influence in what should be a scientific process,”

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