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EPA chief signs proposal limiting

science used in decisions

By MICHAEL BIESECKER and lators can use to determine parency from a principle
SETH BORENSTEIN the impact of pesticide for improving science into
Associated Press and pollution exposure on a weapon that undermines
WASHINGTON (AP) — En- human health. it,” said Brian Nosek, a psy-
vironmental Protection Pruitt said the change, chologist who directs and
Agency Administrator long sought by chemical co-founded the Center for
Scott Pruitt signed a pro- manufacturers and fossil Open Science, which ad-
In this April 3, 2018, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency posed rule Tuesday that fuel companies, would in- vocates for open data and
Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks at a news conference at the seeks to restrict the types of crease transparency in the transparency in research.
EPA in Washington. scientific studies that regu- agency’s decision-making If finalized after a 30-day
Associated Press by requiring all underlying public comment period,
data used in scientific stud- the new policy would fol-
ies to be made publicly low other moves by Pruitt
available. that have included replac-
“The era of secret science ing academic scientists on
at EPA is coming to an EPA advisory committee
end,” Pruitt said. “The abili- with those either direct-
ty to test, authenticate and ly employed by industry
reproduce scientific find- or who accept research
ings is vital for the integrity funding from corporate in-
of the rule-making process. terests.
Americans deserve to as- In adopting the “secret sci-
sess the legitimacy of the ence” ban, Pruitt is imple-
science underpinning EPA menting restrictions that
decisions that may impact conservative lawmakers
their lives.” have sought for years but
Facing a swarm of ethical been unable to pass, even
questions about his use of with Republican majorities
taxpayer money for per- in both the House and Sen-
sonal perks, Pruitt signed ate.
the proposed order at EPA “For too long, the EPA has
headquarters in an event issued rules and regula-
livestreamed on the agen- tions based on data that
cy’s website but not open has been withheld from the
to the press. American people,” said
Critics that include former Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas,
EPA administrators and sci- a Republican who chairs
entists said the policy shift the House Science, Space,
is designed to restrict the and Technology Commit-
agency from citing peer- tee. “It’s likely that in the
reviewed public-health past the data did not justify
studies that use patient all regulations. Today, Ad-
medical records that must ministrator Pruitt rightfully is
be kept confidential under changing business as usual
patient privacy laws. and putting a stop to hid-
Such studies include the den agendas.”
Harvard School of Public Smith also took the oppor-
Health’s landmark Six Cities tunity to lend his support to
study of 1993, which estab- the embattled EPA chief.
lished links between death “I know of no other admin-
rates and dirty air in major istration official who goes
U.S. cities. That study was on the offensive, who isn’t
used by EPA to justify tight- intimidated, and who does
er air-quality rules opposed what he thinks is the right
by industrial polluters. thing regardless,” Smith
“This policy converts trans- said.q