US GAO Awaiting Statutory EPA Science Quality and Integrity Policy Statement
Jun 8, 2017
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has yet to update its statutory policy statement on science quality and integrity, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) reported today, June 8, 2017.
An explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 directed the EPA to develop an updated policy statement on science quality and integrity for its Science Advisory Board.
The Science Advisory Board reviews scientific and technical research used in the agency’s rulemaking process, as well as advises on other scientific matters.
According to the explanatory statement, the required policy statement must include (1) goals on increasing membership from states and tribes; (2) an evaluation of potential bias, if the EPA’s Administrator decides that financial-related metrics are appropriate to identify conflicts of interest or bias; and (3) direction on treating public comments.
As of the March 17, 2016 deadline, the EPA has yet to submit a compliant update.
Members of the Science Advisory Board were dismissed earlier this year after President Trump ordered EPA Director Scott Pruitt to radically remake the agency. The President has advocated for deep cuts in the EPA’s budget and a rollback of major regulations on climate change and clean water protection, the New York Times reported.
The EPA restructured its Web site in late April, resulting in the removal of several agency landing pages containing detailed climate science data and other scientific information. To read the Washington Post report, click here.
During late March, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bills to restrict the type of science and data the EPA uses to write new regulations, as well as to overhaul the Science Advisory Board. Those bills are awaiting Senate approval.
To view today’s GAO report, click here.
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