Censored Science: Attacks on Science
(April 2018-August 2018)

beacons filled with plants

On April 24, 2018, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a proposal that would restrict EPA’s use of scientific studies when the agency sets rules and other policies and requirements, unless the raw underlying data and the models used to analyze data supporting the study are available for public review. The proposal disingenuously positions itself as somehow supporting the value of “transparency,” when in fact what it does is make it impossible for EPA to consider the full array of well-conducted and peer-reviewed scientific studies of the health effects of pollution. EPN submitted formal comments to EPA on August 14, 2018. Before that, EPN created the following documents to help EPA, reporters, other non-profit organizations, and Congress to understand this troublesome proposal:

August 14, 2018
EPN comments on Proposal to Restrict Use of Scientific Studies in Decision-making [PDF]
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July 17, 2018
EPN members shared oral and written testimony critiquing significant scientific and legal inadequacies in the proposed rule at an EPA hearing:
Testimony of David Coursen, former EPA attorney
Testimony of John Bachmann, former EPA Associate Director for Science/Policy
Testimony of Gary E Timm, former EPA Chief of the Chemical Testing Branch of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Testimony of Lynn R Goldman, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances
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May 29, 2018
EPN’s Written Statement to the SAB about EPA Planned Actions about Supporting Science [PDF]
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May 15, 2018
EPN’s Request to Extend the Deadline for Comments for Pruitt’s Proposed Restrictions on Science [PDF]
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April 26, 2018
EPN’s Executive Summary of Pruitt’s Proposed Restrictions on Science [PDF]
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April 26, 2018
EPN’s Policy Analysis of Pruitt’s Proposed Restrictions on Science [PDF]
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April 26, 2018
EPN’s Legal Analysis of Pruitt’s Proposed Restrictions on Science [PDF]
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