A key White House adviser and a House Republican lawmaker are opposing Democratic plans to bolster federal research into the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, raising questions about whether Congress and the executive branch will be able to agree on the measure before funding for the program expires later this year. At the same time, key EPA advisers are criticizing the agency's nano-research plan as not going far enough in explaining how the agency will study and manage potential risks to human health and the environment. The criticism comes as many industry and environmental groups are putting pressure on EPA to agree to a congressional mandate to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on recommending a broad federal research strategy considering the risks posed by nanomaterials. Administration officials are arguing that the NAS research is not necessary because of ongoing research efforts, including EPA's.
展开▼
