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Chemical Reform Agenda

PEER has a long track record of representing whistleblowers and working with anonymous government employees who want to hold their agencies accountable for protecting public health and the environment from toxic chemicals and pollution.

Our work focuses on five areas:

Protecting scientists in their work.
Ensuring that any chemical in commerce is safe or can be managed to protect human health and the environment.
Fighting to have systems in place to ensure we use the safest and healthiest products possible.
Making sure that if industry causes unsafe levels of pollution or chemical accidents, the public knows immediately, and the responsible party pays to clean it up
Increasing government transparency to allow for better decision making and accountability.

Because of chemicals, humans have progressed in extraordinary ways.

However, the overuse and mismanagement of chemicals are causing significant long-term threats to a livable planet. Exposure to toxic chemicals can harm children, shorten life expectancy, and negatively affect the well-being of all living things for generations. Together with climate change and biodiversity loss, the mismanagement of chemicals is a significant obstacle to a livable planet.

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New Chemicals Need Closer Scrutiny

EPA does not have reasonable assurance that the new chemicals review process is properly considering and addressing risks to public health and the environment. PEER is working to change that. Learn more»

EPA Scientists Punished for Identifying Chemical Risks

The Inspector General found EPA retaliated against scientists because they protested watering down risk assessments for new chemicals being approved for commercial release. Learn more»

Strengthening the Chemical Safety Board

The Chemicals Safety Board suffers from personnel issues, industry influence, and weak regulations. PEER works to strengthen this agency’s capacity to respond to accidents. Learn more»

A SNAPSHOT OF PEER’S PAST EFFORTS

Here are some examples of how PEER has made a difference:

Revealed that EPA had hidden thousands of industry reports from the public and their own scientists about the substantial health risks from chemicals already on the market. Our subsequent legal action caused EPA to post these reports once again.
Identified the presence of PFAS, a toxic class of chemicals known as “forever chemicals,” in products such as plastic containers, fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial turf. We are working to get these products off the market and to promote safer alternatives.
Helped to stop the use of radioactive phosphor-gypsum to build highways. This dangerous scheme was a big giveaway to the fertilizer industry over the objections of EPA’s staff experts.

PEER’S PERSPECTIVE

Reforming EPA’s New Chemicals Program

Keep up-to-date and access information on whistleblower disclosures about EPA's practice of routinely approving dangerous new toxic chemicals without proper risk assessments, and why this endangers public health and the environment.

Radiation Exposure Limits Weakened in Departing Bush Move

Jan 21, 2009

Huge Hikes in Allowable Radioactivity in Drinking Water, Air and Soil

Serious Contamination of U.S. Sugar Lands Ignored for Decades

Nov 18, 2008

Less than $17,000 in Florida State Pollution Penalty Assessments Over 20 Years

Chromium Poses Higher Lung Cancer Risk in New Jersey Cities

Nov 17, 2008

State Ignored Staff Warnings of Continued Exposure Even in “Remediated” Sites

EPA Drops Plan for Pesticide Endorsements and Cause Marketing

Oct 1, 2008

Loophole Left for Case-by-Case Okays of Label Pesticide Pitches, Plugs and Logos

New Tahoe National Forest Proposal Lacks Balance, Quiet Recreation Shortchanged

Sep 26, 2008

Hikers, Campers, Anglers and Other Forest Visitors Worry That New Forest Service Proposal Would Lead to More Noise, Pollution and Safety Risks From Dirt Bikes and Off-Road Vehicles