"EPA's preliminary findings on an air pollution standard with widespread public health implications are being bluntly rejected by most members of a key advisory panel.
The panel's conclusions are likely to sharpen the controversy over a review criticized by detractors for turning a regulatory decision into a politicized process with a predetermined outcome.
A majority on the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee said that in light of "limitations" in the findings, EPA "does not establish that new scientific evidence and data reasonably call into question the public health protection" afforded by the existing annual standard for fine particles, according to the draft report released late yesterday.
The draft document is a follow-up to last month's public meeting at which the committee, usually known by its acronym CASAC, split 4-2 in favor of keeping the status quo (E&E News PM, Oct. 25). Members are set to revisit that standoff at another gathering early next month near EPA's offices in Research Triangle Park, N.C."
