Among the staff positions needed within the office are biologists, chemists and toxicologists, EPA said, as well as chemical engineers, physical scientists and microbiologists. Those roles are all key for shaping work carried out under TSCA, including critical risk assessments meant to protect the public and the environment.
Advocates who have expressed repeated concerns about OCSPP staffing issues indicated the initial survey results left them with questions. Kyla Bennett, who directs science policy for the group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, pointed to some of the more negative responses laid out in the results.
“It seems like there are a LOT of problems in this division; while some of it is related to staff shortages, the fear of bullying, retaliation, and harassment the employees mention is frightening,” she wrote via email.
Bennett encouraged Freedhoff to take swift action on the issues raised by OCSPP members, while adding that she would like to see more information regarding the actual survey results.
“I suspect that the devil is in the details,” Bennett said.
