Bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force Holds Call with EPA Administrator Wheeler, Urges More Engagement with Communities Affected by EtO
The bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force convened a call this week with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler about the EPA's ongoing ethylene oxide (EtO) rulemaking. Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Jody Hice (R-GA) released the following statement:
"Our EtO Task Force appreciated Administrator Wheeler talking with us about the EPA's updated rulemaking to more strictly regulate EtO, particularly his acknowledgement that the Agency needs to better engage with our communities about the public health risks they face. We also look forward to working with Administrator Wheeler on implementing the recommendations outlined in the Office of Inspector General (OIG) report released this week on the shortcomings of the Agency's EtO-related community outreach. While we have long expressed our frustration to the Agency about its failed public approach – consequences of which our constituents have experienced firsthand -- we look forward to making the OIG's recommendations a reality."