Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight and Investigations Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) issued the following statement today after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) external science advisors identified significant concerns with the Agency’s draft risk evaluation of Pigment Violet 29 (PV29), one of the first ten chemicals undergoing review in accordance with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):
“From day one, the Trump Administration has taken every opportunity to undermine scientific integrity at EPA. This report underscores precisely why that agenda is so dangerous: it leads to poorly-conducted evaluations that, ultimately, could translate into more Americans being exposed to toxic chemicals," said the three Committee leaders. “Moreover, the TSCA Scientific Advisory Committee’s warning is just the latest reminder that EPA desperately needs a robust, independent science apparatus committed to transparency and credibility. We’re calling on EPA to follow the recommendations of the Committee and to start taking its responsibilities to public health seriously."
PV29 is a toxic chemical often found in paints and plastics. EPA’s draft risk evaluation of the substance found “no unreasonable risk," despite the fact it belongs to a class of chemicals linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, immune impacts and neurological damage. On Jan. 30, Committee leaders first asked EPA to produce the studies upon which EPA had based their conclusion, noting that EPA’s decision to designate the studies as “Confidential Business Information" was unlawful. In March, in response to renewed demands by Committee leaders, EPA finally produced redacted versions of the studies upon which the Agency had based its potentially erroneous conclusion.
