According to the story, the committee is investigating whether EPA and the main chemical manufacturer trade group (now known by the benign-sounding name, the American Chemistry Council) worked together to keep scientists with industry conflicts-of-interest on key science advisory panels, but threw off an independent state-paid scientist whose views did not comport with the industry's. Here is the April 2nd Dingell-gram, or information demand, from committee chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Investigations subcommittee chairman Bart Stupak (D-MI) to the chemistry club. Here is an excerpt from the Post story.

The lawmakers want to know why the EPA allowed the scientists in question to remain on expert panels but removed a public health scientist, Deborah C. Rice, from a panel at the chemistry council's request. Rice chaired an EPA panel last year that reviewed safe levels for deca-BDE, a polybrominated diphenyl ether used as a fire retardant in television casings and other electronics. Deca has been found to cause cancer in mice and is a suspected human carcinogen.

The Post has a sidebar listing scientists under investigation for receiving massive industry consulting fees.

In other toxic chemical news, Vicki Ekstrom over at Stateline.org has a nice story States lead feds in toy safety summarizing all the work being done by the states to protect us from toxic hazards. This week, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire signed PIRG-backed toxic toy legislation.