EPA’s political leaders have hedged on reorganization plans for its stand-alone research office, but the office’s managers are already warning staff of halting lab research and reassigning key duties. In an email sent Thursday morning to all staff in the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, one of the Office of Research and Development’s four research centers, center Director Wayne Cascio and deputy Kay Holt wrote, “Lab research will wind down over the next few weeks as we will no longer have the capability to acquire supplies and materials.” … CPHEA oversees multiple research divisions, from climate science to pollutant assessments. One of its divisions is the embattled Integrated Risk Information System, or IRIS, which conducts chemical risk assessments that industry lobbyists have for years challenged for overstating the dangers of certain substances.

Other EPA news:

• E&E News by Politico: Over 1,800 flock to EPA’s downsizing offer
• National Association of Counties: Blog: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces actions to combat PFAS contamination
• The National Law Review: Opinion: Setting the record straight: New chemical review needs scientists
• FedScoop: EPA system for water, air and toxics data is vulnerable to threats