EPA’s Science Advisers Question Pruitt’s Plan to Censor Science

WASHINGTON - Following a flood of criticisms from the public, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific Advisory Board said today that it should review Scott Pruitt’s plan on “secret science.” The decision follows a detailed critique of Pruitt’s proposal from a sub-group of that federal advisory board. The board also asked to review EPA’s so-called glider rule for heavy-duty diesel trucks and its decision to reconsider fuel-efficiency and emissions standards for cars and light trucks.

The following is a statement by Ana Unruh Cohen, managing director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“Scott Pruitt moved to restrict the peer-reviewed science the agency relies on to set health standards without first consulting the EPA’s own science advisers. The advisory panel is right to seek to review the anemic reasons for adopting this plan.  

“The leadership of the board was chosen by Pruitt himself, so their decision today is a sharp rebuke of his leadership and this dangerous proposal.”

The following is a statement from Luke Tonachel, director of the Clean Vehicles and Fuels Project at NRDC:

“Pruitt’s EPA is trying to weaken vehicle emissions safeguards that protect our health and planet. By asking for a review, the advisers appropriately recognized the agency’s actions were not based on sound science. We hope this decision puts a stop to EPA’s politically motivated attacks on our air.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​