Industry intervenes in chemical regulation lawsuits
Trade groups back up US EPA against environmental campaigners’ complaints of relaxation in new rules
The chemical industry is stepping up to assist the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in lawsuits filed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and other campaign groups. Under dispute are the EPA’s final rules to implement the updated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which regulates new and existing chemicals in the US.
The plaintiffs argue that the EPA’s rules governing how the agency will assess the risks posed by chemical substances, published on 20 July, cave to the chemical industry. They assert that the final rules are significantly relaxed compared to the original proposals – made in January, right before President Trump took office.