• In Fall 2023, Congressman Westerman visited Bakelite Synthetics in Crossett, Arkansas, where he heard concerns from stakeholders on the EPA’s lack of consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (NWS) on its IRIS assessment of formaldehyde.
• The EPA’s IRIS Program is located within the EPA’s Office of Research and Development; this program develops risk assessments for certain chemicals.
• While the EPA plays an important role in protecting public health and the environment, the IRIS program has long been the subject of scrutiny and has been seen as lacking transparency. The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued reports in 2020 and 2022 citing concerns with delays in the process and the need for greater transparency.
• The IRIS assessment for formaldehyde is currently under development at EPA; this assessment could potentially be used to inform regulatory activities under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), among others. Regulations under these statutes can have numerous impacts across industries.
• In recent years, Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly raised concerns about this assessment, specifically that an unworkable or unachievable standard would negatively impact multiple sectors of the economy and the environment.
• Congressman Westerman’s letter echoes these concerns, encouraging the EPA, the NMFS, and the FWS to work together in evaluating and developing this IRIS assessment.
• Given formaldehyde’s prevalence across sectors of the economy—with Arkansas home to multiple facilities that produce this chemical—the process to develop this risk assessment needs to utilize the best available science and ensure that all agencies with an interest in the issue are consulted.

Click here to read the full letter.