EPA DELAYS PERC RISK STUDY FOR IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY

Following recommendations from industry, EPA science chief George Gray has delayed the final risk review of the dry-cleaner solvent perchloroethylene (PERC) to implement for the first time his plans for broader consideration of scientific uncertainty in EPA risk assessments in the agency's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. But the delay could undermine an EPA air office effort to issue an air toxic rule for dry cleaning facilities that emit the solvent and spark opposition from staff scientists, agency sources...