Science, Health Leaders Lay Out Evidence vs. EPA 'Secret Science' Rule

"The Trump plan, pushed by fossil fuel supporters, could prevent the use of key health and pollution studies in policy making and jeopardize public safety. "

"Arguing that public health and safety are at risk, researchers, health experts and administrators from leading scientific institutions across the nation have joined in opposition to a controversial Trump administration proposal that would restrict the use of science in federal policy making.

As the comment period draws to a close Thursday on a plan to limit the science that the Environmental Protection Agency can use in decision-making, the scientific and academic communities are flooding the agency with letters arguing the proposal would hobble EPA and wreak havoc on research.

"The proposed rule would—for no rational reason—prevent EPA from relying on much of the research that ... public health and environmental exposure researchers have conducted and continue to conduct," said one letter, organized by Harvard University, its health and medical schools and its affiliated hospitals. It was signed by Harvard President Lawrence Bacow and nearly 100 other administrators and researchers—the first time such an array of Harvard's most prestigious faculty have joined in opposition to any EPA proposal, according to former agency officials and observers."

Marianne Lavelle reports for InsideClimate News August 15, 2018.

Source: InsideClimate News, 08/16/2018