EPA rules driven by policy, critics say

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Republican critics of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expressed concern over whether policy was driven by science or the other way around.

Leaders in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have drawn a bead on the EPA as lawmakers examine federal spending during troubled economic times. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in March claimed the EPA is made up of "unelected bureaucrats" who are throwing up "roadblocks to domestic energy production."

A House subcommittee had a hearing to examine the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System, a program setup in the 1980s to help the EPA make decisions regarding exposure to certain chemicals.

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., chairman of a House subcommittee on environment and the economy, said he supported efforts to improve public health but questioned the way IRIS did business.

"There is no doubt providing such high quality science-based assessment is critical to EPA's mission," he said in a statement. "The question is whether IRIS is in fact fulfilling this goal or have results begun to develop to support specific policy objectives."

The Government Accountability Office is reviewing transparency proposals for the IRIS offered by the EPA and is to present those findings later this year.