14 Health and Medical Groups Strongly Oppose EPA's Expanded Proposal to Censor Science

In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) supplemental proposal, “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science,” 14 national health and medical organizations, including: the American Lung Association, the Allergy & Asthma Network, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, the American Heart Association, the American Public Health Association, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Center for Climate Change & Health, Children’s Environmental Health Network, Climate for Health, Health Care Without Harm, the National WIC Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Public Health Institute issued the following statement: 

“Today’s supplemental proposal remains dangerously flawed and we oppose it. The proposal still permits the Administrator to censor the scientific information EPA uses in its policy decisions. Under the misleading veil of ‘transparency,’ it would require EPA to either ignore or undervalue important studies that rely on confidential patient information. EPA should use the best available health research to set limits on air pollution. 

“Thousands of lives are saved each year because EPA has been able to use the best science to set air pollution standards. The scientific research that EPA uses is already transparent. It undergoes a long-established review process that ensures scientific rigor and protects health study participants’ private medical information from being made public.

“This supplemental proposal is just another step to undermine science and the scientific underpinnings of government policymaking. It builds upon EPA’s previous ‘censoring science’ proposal by expanding the types of scientific data and information that can be excluded from consideration. It also expands the scope of the rulemaking to apply to “influential scientific information” in addition to significant regulatory actions.

“Americans are healthier and live longer as a result of the sound science that informs clean air protections. Interfering with EPA’s historical practice of using well-vetted studies would threaten the health and lives of Americans. Our organizations strongly oppose the Administration’s efforts to undermine public health and censor science, and we urge EPA to abandon plans to move forward with this proposal.”