A Maine state toxicologist who was removed from a federal scientific panel earlier this year at the request of a chemical industry group is scheduled to testify Thursday morning before at a congressional hearing on scientific integrity.

Deborah Rice, a toxicologist with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, was dropped from a panel reviewing the safety of a controversial flame retardant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed her after a chemical trade group complained that she had testified in favor of a Maine law phasing out the chemical from use in household products.

Rice's dismissal led to accusations of industry influence within the EPA, and led members of Congress and Gov. John Baldacci to call for an explanation. The EPA also has requested an investigation.

Rice, a former federal scientist, will be on a panel testifying before a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The subject of the session is identified as "Science Under Siege: Scientific Integrity at the Environmental Protection Agency."

The panel also is scheduled to include environmental advocates and a representative of the American Chemistry Council, the group that called for her removal from the EPA's peer review panel.

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