Scientists booted from EPA panel form their own group
Scientists who were booted from their advisory roles by the Trump administration plan to reconvene their air pollution panel without the backing of the government.
The 20-member review panel was composed of some of the nation’s top scientists, who were tasked with reviewing how soot and other microscopic air pollutants impact human health.
“This is the first time in the history of EPA where the credibility of the agency’s science review process has been so compromised that an independent panel of experts has recognized the need for and will be conducting a comprehensive review,” said Chris Zarba.
The reunion comes amid efforts from the White House to limit the number of scientific review panels across government and as the EPA pushes out a number of regulations that critics say will increase air pollution.
It’s possible the action may spur other groups to form as President Trump encourages departments to axe other similar committees. He signed an executive order in June that requires departments to trim advisory boards by one-third, a move that sparked outrage among scientists.
“Reconvening a disbanded pollutant review panel breaks new ground,” said Gretchen Goldman, a research director at the Union for Concerned Scientists.
“Nothing like this has ever been done before. Indeed, nothing like this has ever been necessary. But we live in unprecedented times.”
Scientists booted from EPA panel form their own group
Scientists who were booted from their advisory roles by the Trump administration plan to reconvene their air pollution panel without the backing of the government.
The 20-member review panel was composed of some of the nation’s top scientists, who were tasked with reviewing how soot and other microscopic air pollutants impact human health.
“This is the first time in the history of EPA where the credibility of the agency’s science review process has been so compromised that an independent panel of experts has recognized the need for and will be conducting a comprehensive review,” said Chris Zarba.
The reunion comes amid efforts from the White House to limit the number of scientific review panels across government and as the EPA pushes out a number of regulations that critics say will increase air pollution.
It’s possible the action may spur other groups to form as President Trump encourages departments to axe other similar committees. He signed an executive order in June that requires departments to trim advisory boards by one-third, a move that sparked outrage among scientists.
“Reconvening a disbanded pollutant review panel breaks new ground,” said Gretchen Goldman, a research director at the Union for Concerned Scientists.
“Nothing like this has ever been done before. Indeed, nothing like this has ever been necessary. But we live in unprecedented times.”
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/463225-scientists-booted-from-epa-panel-form-their-own
Thanks to anti-science republicans.