A new report from the EPA's Office of the Inspector General has exposed a pattern of retaliation against EPA scientists who challenged the agency's rubber-stamping of potentially dangerous chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the grants on Sept. 4, 2024, with Christopher Frey, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Regulations for vinyl chloride are still several years off, and could have significant impacts on the market for PVC plastics, which are used in a wide range of products.

Critics pan how the cuts will impact conservation efforts. Supporters counter that it will help with energy independence. 

After about 10 years of cleanup activities, EPA will evaluate the effectiveness of the cleanup and determine what additional work, if any, is necessary to achieve cleanup goals.

The results of a review commissioned in 2020 confirm that the 2013 selected cleanup plan remains the best option, but costs have increased.

The expected completion date for this project is May 2026.

“EPA has one of the weakest Scientific Integrity Policy in government and its latest revision will add little of substance,” said Pacific PEER Director Jeff Ruch.

The EPA recently proposed a plan to protect people living and working in residential and commercial buildings at the Meeker Avenue Plume Superfund Site in Brooklyn. 

The draft policy repeatedly declares its intent to prevent political suppression of scientific information, but Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) say the policies lack concrete rules.