Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Scientific Study - EPA Rule Reactions (Politico, Morning Energy)


(WASHINGTON, DC) – EPA is moving full-speed ahead in its controversial scientific policy that would exclude the use of studies that don't publicly disclose all data. The agency published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on Monday, kicking into gear a 30-day comment period. And already, several groups have come forward to oppose the policy, laying out what they see as the policy's adverse effects - and calling for more consideration before any formal change.

The Union of Concerned Scientists - which sent a letter signed by more than 1,000 scientists to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt last week asking him to reverse course prior to the rule's announcement - plans to send another urging for the comment period to be extended a minimum of 60 days and calling for the agency to hold three public hearings across the U.S. to receive additional input. "The current timeframe and lack of opportunities for engagement are wholly inadequate and will not allow for thorough public input of this proposed rule and its impact on science-based health and environmental safeguards." Read the letter here.

A group of scientific journals released a joint statement saying that the proposal "does not strengthen policies based on scientific evidence to limit the scientific evidence that can inform them; rather, it is paramount that the full suite of relevant science vetted through peer review, which includes ever more rigorous features, inform the landscape of decision making. Excluding relevant studies simply because they do not meet rigid transparency standards will adversely affect decision-making processes."