The Center for Public Integrity published an opinion piece by journalist Jim Morris, pointing out that a proposed rule aiming to regulate “chemicals of concern”, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, is being kept back by the U.S. White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to list “chemicals of concern” was submitted to the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on May 12, 2010 and should have been reviewed within a maximum of 4 months. In the opinion piece, Lisa Heinzerling, former EPA official and law professor at Georgetown University, is quoted saying that OIRA can “make sure that some rules never [see] the light of day”. Morris voices his opinion by stating that a non-scientific office should not have the power to undermine proposals by the EPA. Furthermore, the public “deserve access to information about the chemicals found in products throughout their homes that might pose a risk to their health”, thereby citing Senator Lautenberg who is currently pushing a reform of the U.S.’ Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
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