(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."
