"EPA Bars Reporters from Toxic Chemicals Summit Again"

"EPA staff Wednesday morning barred POLITICO and reporters from at least two other publications from entering a national summit on toxic chemicals, a day after a partial media blackout at the same event brought criticism from congressional Democrats and a pledge by the White House to investigate the incident.

The agency on Tuesday had allowed a select group of reporters to cover the first hour of the summit's introductory remarks, including comments by Administrator Scott Pruitt, but then escorted press out. EPA reversed its decision to ban media after news coverage of the policy and reports from the Associated Press that one of its journalists was forcibly ejected from the building by a security guard. Reporters were invited back for Tuesday afternoon.

But on Wednesday, the agency again said no reporters would be allowed to attend.

The event, where attendees are discussing whether and how to regulate a class of chemicals linked to immune disorders and certain cancers, included federal and state officials, health groups and industry interests on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it is limited to the agencies that handle chemical oversight and state regulators, according to an EPA statement."

Emily Holden reports for Politico May 23, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Again Blocks Reporters From Chemicals Summit" (ABC News)

"EPA Again Bars Reporters From Water Pollution Event" (The Hill)

"Why Doesn’t The US Government Want Journalists To Hear Its Findings On Contaminated Public Water?" (Quartz)

"Michigan Officials Urge Federal Action Over PFAS Pollution" (Detroit News)

"Group: PFAS Contamination Far Worse Than Was Believed" (Parkersburg News and Sentinel)

"Report: Up to 110 Million Americans Could Have PFAS-Contaminated Drinking Water" (Environmental Working Group)

"Big Question at EPA Summit: How Many PFAS Do We Regulate?" (Grand Rapids Press)

"Michigan Lobbies for Nationwide PFAS Rules at EPA Summit" (Grand Rapids Press)

"Welch Wants EPA To Release PFOA Health Study" (Vermont Public Radio)

"Vermont Officials Decry Epa Effort To Suppress PFOA/PFAS Study" (Bennington Banner)

 

Source: Politico, 05/24/2018