US House launches probe of EPA firing

18 March 2008 18:25  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The launch of an investigation by a US House committee prompted the American Chemistry Council (ACC) on Tuesday to defend the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s removal of an advisor from a chemical review panel.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has begun an probe into whether alleged conflicts of interest were marring the EPA’s chemical review process.

The EPA removed Deborah Rice as chairman from the agency’s internal peer review panel for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in August after the ACC complained that Rice had expressed concerns about the health effects for decabromodiphenyl ether, commonly referred to as deca-BDE, or simply deca.

Deca-BDE is widely used as a fire retardant in electronics plastic and upholstered furniture.

“The ACC expressed concern that the peer review panel's leadership lacked the impartiality and objectivity necessary to conduct a fair and impartial review of the data and we believe the EPA acted appropriately and consistently with the rules governing membership in scientific review panels,” the industry group said in a statement.

“The chairperson's pre-existing bias advocating the ban of deca-BDE is not consistent with the scientific standards of an independent peer review,” the ACC continued.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee said on Monday it was investigating the EPA’s dismissal of Rice and its selection of at least eight people with financial links to the chemical businesses and lobbying firms to serve on toxic chemical review panels.

In a letter to EPA administrator Stephen Johnson, committee members said the ACC’s justification of Rice’s dismissal “does not seem sensible on its face”.

“The ACC’s objection to Dr. Rice’s participation on the review panel appears to be based on the assertion that … she testified before the Maine legislature on the human health risks presented by deca,” the committee said. “The ACC … seems to argue that scientific expertise with regard to a particular chemical and its human health effects is a basis for disqualification from the peer review board.

“The EPA is disallowing scientists who have valid public health concerns about products while encouraging participation by so-called experts who are paid by the chemical industry,” committee chairman Representative John Dingell, (Democrat-Michigan) said in a press statement.

The committee has asked the EPA for records relating to Rice’s appointment and dismissal and communications between the EPA and ACC pertaining to Rice. A committee spokesman declined to comment, saying the investigation was ongoing.

The EPA did not immediately return calls for comment.

By: Ben Lefebvre
+1 713 525 2653

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