EPA Administrator Under Ten Ethics Investigations Signs " Secret Science " Proposal

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule on April 24, 2018 intended to restrict the use of science in crafting regulations. The proposed rule would do this by prohibiting the use of research for which data are not publicly available. The “secret science” proposal titled “strengthening transparency and validity in regulatory science” was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on April 19, 2018. “We need to make sure [scientists’] data and methodology are published as part of the record,” said Pruitt. “Otherwise, it’s not transparent. It’s not objectively measured, and that’s important.” E&E News reported that OMB completed its review of the proposed rule a day after Pruitt signed it, breaking protocol. After reports of the discrepancy surfaced, OMB backdated the review completion date to suggest it had been completed a day prior to Pruitt releasing the proposed rule. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) have given their support to the proposal. Smith had also met with Pruitt in January to discuss the issue. Both Smith and Rounds have previously introduced legislation that would bar the EPA from using data that is not “transparent or reproducible.” Versions of the legislation have previously been passed by the House of Representatives but had ultim...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news