Against Republican opposition, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) approved on Sept. 22 Jeff Prieto as General Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Jennifer Sass as a member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent agency. The two were approved alongside two uncontroversial nominees to the CSB, Stephen Owens and Sylvia Johnson. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R.-W.V.), ranking member of the EPW committee, explained her concerns with the two nominees. “CSB plays a critical role in analyzing why industrial accidents occur, and how they can avoid them in the future, in a technical and unbiased manner. Dr. Sass’s criticism of the chemical industry included deriding the EPA for engaging with the American Chemistry Council about implementing the Toxic Substances Control Act in a transparent manner,” she said. “I was troubled by her attempt to conceal that attack, and other …