Washington DC — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule Tuesday that seeks to restrict the types of scientific studies that regulators can use to determine the impact of pesticide and pollution exposure on human health.
Pruitt said the change, long sought by chemical manufacturers and fossil fuel companies, would increase transparency in the agency’s decision-making by requiring all underlying data used in scientific studies to be made publicly available.
“The era of secret science at EPA is coming to an end,” Pruitt said.
Americans deserve to assess the legitimacy of the science underpinning EPA decisions that may impact their lives.
“The ability to test, authenticate and reproduce scientific findings is vital for the integrity of the rule-making process.
”Facing a swarm of ethical questions about his use of taxpayer money for personal perks, Pruitt signed the proposed order at EPA headquarters in an event live streamed on the agency’s website but not open to the press.