EPA alleges Trump officials interfered in toxic chemical assessment

[Judi Lynn]

1 hour ago - Energy & Environment
Rebecca Falconer

Officials appointed by former President Trump interfered to overrule career scientists in a safety assessment for a toxic chemical linked to health issues at the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA said Tuesday.

Why it matters: EPA career scientists found in a review that conclusions made by the officials in regards to the chemical, PFBS, "were compromised by political interference as well as infringement of authorship and the scientific independence of the authors' conclusions," according to a statement by President Biden's EPA.

"This constitutes a violation of the agency’s Scientific Integrity Policy and the documents have been removed from the EPA website while the agency completes its review."

— EPA statement

The chemical affected by the January changes to the safety assessment has been linked to the contamination of drinking water affecting some 860,000 Americans.

Politico reported at the time that Trump-appointed officials had "overruled the agency's career scientists to weaken" the assessment.

More:
https://www.axios.com/epa-trump-political-intereference-toxic-chemical-d1330e8a-8922-4a03-b29a-8f4f7b896ada.html