Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:29:47 EDT
Scientists Protest as EPA Delays Dry Cleaning Rule
Environmental Protection Agency scientists are protesting demands by a senior political appointee at the agency for further tests on perchloroethylene, or perc, a widely used dry cleaning solvent, InsideEPA reports. The new in-house tests were requested by Office of Research and Development head George Gray, who previously ran the Harvard Center for Risk Assessment. He wants the tests completed before the assessment moves on to the National Academy of Sciences for review.
The NAS study itself is a product of industry delaying tactics. In June, the American Chemistry Council and Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance met with the Office of Management and Budget to protest the pending perc regulation. The EPA subsequently threw the entire issue to the NAS for an independent review. At issue is the use of threshold levels for determining toxicity, with industry claiming that low levels of exposure do not cause harmful effects. EPA scientists say there is no scientific justification for using this theory in regulatory proceedings. "George Gray uses uncertainty to delay decision-making," said Judy Schreiber, with the Attorney General's Office of New York, who works with affected citizens who live above dry cleaning facilities in apartment buildings, "Its time the EPA sits down and makes a decision."
