US chemical safety office finally gets a new director

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) chemical safety office, which implements the Toxic Substances Control Act (Tsca) that governs the country’s chemical policy, finally has a new director – one endorsed by both environmental groups and the chemical industry. The post has been empty since 2017. The Senate has now confirmed that environmental law professor Alexandra Dunn will head the office. The appointment came more than a year after president Trump’s original nominee, Michael Dourson, withdrew his name in the face of mounting opposition over his extensive industry ties and potential conflicts of interest.