EPA must increase transparency on chemical reviews, judge rules
A federal judge in D.C. has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to disclose more information about chemicals under review, siding with environmental groups who argued that the current lack of transparency compromises public safety.
Zack Budryk reports for The Hill.
In short:
- A Washington, D.C. judge ruled that the EPA must release non-confidential information about chemicals within five days of receiving an application under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
- Environmental groups successfully challenged EPA's practices, arguing they were too secretive, allowing companies to withhold critical information.
- The judge emphasized that the public has an enduring right to information, similar to rights under the Freedom of Information Act.
Key quote:
"The law mandates timely public access to robust information about new chemicals entering the marketplace to which we may be exposed."
— Samantha Liskow, lead counsel for Healthy Communities at EDF
Why this matters:
The EPA has often kept details about chemicals under wraps, citing concerns about trade secrets, but this ruling insists that the public has a right to know more about what's potentially lurking in everyday products. Read more: EPA announces stricter rules to prevent chemicals incidents.
