EPA Promises to Reform Chemical Risk Assessment Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal environmental officials have announced reforms to an information program designed to assist federal and state health officials make chemical risk assessments for workers and the public at large.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the reform effort on May 21, saying the agency's Integrated Risk Information System, or IRIS, will give less input to the executive branch and other federal agencies and place a renewed focus on scientific and technical information.

IRIS is an EPA database of risk information that is used by health officials to gauge the dangers of exposure to particular …