Trump's EPA proposes to block regulators from considering a wide range of scientific studies
Source: Los Angeles Times
Trump's EPA proposes to block regulators from considering a wide range of scientific studies
By EVAN HALPER
APR 24, 2018 12:05 PM WASHINGTON
The Trump administration launched an attack on the science behind many of the nation's clean air and clean water rules, announcing a proposal Tuesday that would effectively prevent regulators from considering a wide range of health studies when they look at new regulations. ... The plan by Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt would prohibit what he and industry advocates call "secret science" studies that make use of data that are kept confidential, often for privacy reasons.
The embattled EPA chief, whose own secrecy on his personal finances and his activities in office has drawn the attention of investigators, framed the action as crucial to government transparency. ... "The era of secret science at EPA is coming to an end," Pruitt said in a statement. "The ability to test, authenticate, and reproduce scientific findings is vital for the integrity of the rule-making process. Americans deserve to assess the legitimacy of the science underpinning EPA decisions that may impact their lives."
Many of the country's most prominent research organizations, however, say the studies that Pruitt wants to ban are crucial to effectively protecting the environment. ... The proposal threatens to cut off the federal government's access to essential data and subject science to political manipulation, the research groups say. That is because many health studies involve large amounts of patient data that can be accessed only under condition of confidentiality. Banning such studies would prevent the EPA from considering a wide range of health impacts when looking at rules to limit pollution.
Identical proposals in Congress drew protest from research groups, including the University of California system and the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science.
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-epa-science-20180424-story.html
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/24/pruitt-unveils-controversial-new-science-policy-501612
Pruitt scales back EPA's use of science
By EMILY HOLDEN and ANNIE SNIDER 04/24/2018 03:28 PM EDT
Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt announced Tuesday he would seek to bar the agency from relying on studies that don't publicly disclose all their data, a major policy change that has long been sought by conservatives that will sharply reduce the research the agency can rely on when crafting new regulations.
The unveiling of the proposed rule delivers a win to Republicans like House Science Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who unsuccessfully pushed legislation to impose the same type of change. The move also demonstrates Pruitts persistence in pursuing President Donald Trumps anti-regulation agenda just two days before the embattled EPA chief is due to face fierce questioning from lawmakers about his hefty spending, expanded security detail and cheap condominium rental from the wife of an energy lobbyist.
At an invitation-only meeting at EPA headquarters with Smith, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and other supporters of the policy, Pruitt said the proposed rule was critical in ensuring that the agency was transparent about how it is making decisions to justify costly new regulations. It is the latest step Pruitt has taken to fundamentally shift the agencys approach to science.
"It is a codification of an approach that says as we do our business at the agency the science that we use is going to be transparent, its going to be reproduceable, its going to be able to be analyzed by those in the marketplace. And those who watch what we do can make informed decisions about whether weve drawn the proper conclusions or not, Pruitt said.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/04/24/epa-chief-scott-pruitt-delete-decades-of-science-in-the-name-of-transparency/
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt: Delete Decades Of Science In The Name Of 'Transparency'
Apr 24, 2018, 12:50pm
Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Administrator, has systematically removed science from environmental decisions and regulations in the United States. Now, he's working on yet another rule that would eliminate decades of scientific studies from being considered when writing regulatory standards.
The new rule proposed today would require any data used by the EPA to set regulatory requirements to be publicly available. This new rule masks, which was proposed in the name of "transparency" in fact hides decades of scientific research.
Scott Pruitt, the EPA's Administrator, proposed a new rule that would remove decades-long landmark studies on the health impacts of air pollution, pesticides, etc. from being used in environmental regulatory decisions. This is because many of the studies which were conducted over the course of decades signed a confidentiality agreement with the subjects to not share their personal information as part of the study. Hence, the data was anonymized and reported to the EPA with the requirement that personal information on each subject not be shared with the public.
Therefore, the new rule long sought out by conservatives would eliminate any study that agreed to not release personal information from being considered in making environmental decisions.
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-wants-new-rules-to-rely-solely-on-public-data-1524599432
EPA Wants New Rules to Rely Solely on Public Data
Agency says proposal means transparency; scientists see public-health risk
By Heidi Vogt
http://twitter.com/heidivogt
heidi.vogt@wsj.com
April 24, 2018 3:50 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency plans to restrict research used in developing regulations, the agency said Tuesday, a change that could affect rules governing everything from household products to power-plant emissions.
The proposed rule—which would only allow the use of studies if their underlying data is made public—prompted an uproar from scientists, who said it could endanger Americans’ health. The EPA says the rule would increase transparency by providing complete information about the data undergirding...
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good one, Scott. 
Translation: What's good for big bidness, damn the science. We might one day have an uninhabitable, flaming rock spinning around the sun and his marketplace and our science will be lost to the ages. Good grief man, get a grip. Sooner the better.
