The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on August 2, 2023, critiquing the lack of structured guidance within the New Chemicals Program, which it contends affects the EPA’s ability to consistently and transparently make decisions. Read the detailed account here.
The Inspector General’s report articulates that the EPA’s New Chemicals Division (NCD) fails to guarantee the effectiveness of the new chemicals review process in its current state, and therefore may not be wholly achieving its primary objective, which is to safeguard human health and the environment.
The Inspector General has put forth four recommendations to rectify the situation. The nature of these suggestions, however, was not outlined in the initial report by Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
This development indicates a deep-seated need for robust, comprehensive policies within the EPA’s New Chemicals Program for a consistent approach towards safeguarding public health and the environment. For the complete report and the specifics of the recommendations, please consult the original document here.