“A Huge Setback”: New EPA Directive Could Weaken Hundreds of Chemical Regulations
A new directive from the EPA under the Trump administration could undermine hundreds of chemical regulations by questioning the reliability of assessments from the agency's long-standing IRIS program. The memo, issued by Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi, orders reviews of past assessments and discourages their use in future regulations. Critics warn this could weaken established safety standards for substances like arsenic and lead.
- ▪The EPA's IRIS program has assessed the toxicity of over 500 chemicals for decades.
- ▪Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi issued a memo questioning the validity of IRIS assessments and ordering reviews of regulations based on them.
- ▪The EPA plans to add disclaimer language to the IRIS website stating its findings are not necessarily intended for regulatory use.
- ▪Environmental scientists warn the move could jeopardize long-standing chemical safety standards, including limits on arsenic in drinking water and lead in paint.
- ▪The directive also advises external entities against relying on IRIS assessments for future regulations.
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President Donald Trump, along with Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announce the rollback of an environmental regulation last year. Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images “A Huge Setback”: New EPA Directive Could Weaken Hundreds of Chemical Regulations For decades, a small EPA program assessed toxic chemicals. In an internal memo obtained by ProPublica, a top Trump appointee sharply criticized the program’s work and directed agency offices to review regulations that relied on its assessments.
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