… Legislation introduced in Congress would prohibit the EPA from using any of IRIS’ hundreds of chemical assessments in environmental rules, regulations, enforcement actions and permits that limit the amount of pollution allowed into air and water. The EPA would also be forbidden from using them to map the health risks from toxic chemicals. The bills, filed in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives earlier this year, are championed by companies that make and use chemicals, along with industry groups that have long opposed environmental rules. If it becomes law, the “No IRIS Act,” as it’s called, would essentially bar the agency from carrying out its mission, experts told ProPublica.

Other Environmental Protection Agency news:

• SFGate: Supreme Court sides with San Francisco against EPA in landmark ruling
• The Orange County Register (Irvine, Calif.): Supreme Court water ruling might have unexpectedly clean result in Southern California
• Holland & Knight: Blog: In San Francisco v. EPA, Supreme Court continues its “righting” of the Clean Water Act
• Arnold & Porter: Blog: Supreme Court decision clarifies Clean Water Act’s limits on NPDES permit requirements​
• American Rivers: News release: American Rivers statement on San Francisco v. EPA Supreme Court decision weakening Clean Water Act enforcement
• E&E News by Politico: EPA air nominee focuses on climate adaptation, not regulation
• Truthout: Blog: Trump’s EPA is botching removal of toxic waste from the Los Angeles fires
• The Altamont Enterprise (Calif.): EPA says Mercury Refining site has been cleaned up, no longer a risk