EPA Bars Scientists It Funds From Advisory Roles

Agency says shift will foster independence, some scientists and advocates criticize the move  

 

By  Eli Stokols

WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency will no longer permit scientists receiving agency grants to serve on three of its independent advisory boards, a change the agency said was designed to foster greater independence and regional diversity for the panels, but which scientist groups and environmental advocates said would give polluting industries undue policy influence.
“Whatever science that we’re involved in at the EPA should not be political science,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Tuesday. He said the change is an effort to give the country greater confidence that the advice the EPA is receiving is “independent, arm’s-length input” from scientists who aren’t dependent on the agency for funding. “These boards are intended to be independent in their counsel.” 

The boards were created by Congress to guide EPA policies and research on climate change and pollution. Mr. Pruitt said members of the three advisory boards affected—the EPA Science Advisory Board, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Board of Scientific Counselors—had received $77 million in grants over the past three years. “Those days are over,” he said...........To Read More....