Trump EPA Chem Safety Pick Was in the 'Business of Blessing' Pollution

"Michael Dourson, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, founded and ran a toxicology consulting firm whose work enabled DuPont to avoid providing clean water to people in West Virginia after the company contaminated the area around one of its plants with a dangerous industrial chemical.

In 2000, DuPont was seeking a consulting company to guide the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection in a delicate project. DuPont had used PFOA to make Teflon and other products and allowed the chemical to seep into water near the plant. The assignment was to help the state set safety levels for PFOA that would determine when DuPont had to provide clean water to residents.

After asking around, a DuPont employee named Timothy Bingman decided Dourson’s consulting firm, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment, was just the right company for the job. “I’ve talked to a number of colleagues that use external toxicity peer review services to see who they like as contractors,” Bingman wrote in an email to his DuPont colleagues that had the subject line “Prospective Contractors for PFOA Review.” “While everyone had a few names to offer, the common theme that emerged was that TERA (i.e. Mike Dourson) was the leading choice.” TERA had “a very good reputation among the folks that are still in the business of blessing criteria,” Bingman explained, going on to describe the company’s ability to “assemble a package and then sell this to EPA, or whomever we desired.”"

Sharon Lerner reports for the Intercept July 21, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Controversy Greets Trump Pick To Lead EPA Chemical Safety Programs" (Science)

Previous EJToday Headlines on Dourson (EJToday)

"Scientist With Deep Industry Ties Being Considered For Key EPA Job" (Center for Public Integrity: 12/9/2014)

"EPA Toxics Nominee Has Been Paid By Dozens Of Companies To Work On Dozens Of Chemicals" (Environmental Defense Fund)

"Trump Makes Controversial Pick For Head Of Chemical Safety Office" (Chemistry World)

"EPA Chemical Safety Nominee Aided DuPont in Teflon Scandal" (Environmental Working Group)