"Chemicals: Dems Press EPA On Former Industry Executive's Role"

"Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday pressed U.S. EPA's inspector general and administrator in separate letters for more information about the former American Chemistry Council executive now playing a key role at the agency.

The requests — from Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Kathy Castor of Florida, Diana DeGette of Colorado and Paul Tonko of New York — followed a New York Times investigation of onetime ACC official Nancy Beck and her role in reshaping EPA regulations required under the 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act reform law (E&E News PM, Oct. 23).

'In March, we requested that you initiate an investigation into the protections in place at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent conflicts of interest and unethical abuses of power,' the lawmakers wrote to Inspector General Arthur Elkins.

'We write today to renew that request, with a focus on the work of Dr. Nancy Beck related to the interests of her previous employer, the American Chemistry Council (ACC),' they said."

Corbin Hiar reports for E&E Daily October 31, 2017.