https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-action-protect-scientific-integrity

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News Releases from Headquarters>Research and Development (ORD)

EPA Takes Action to Protect Scientific Integrity

02/09/2021
Contact Information: 
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON (February 9, 2021) -- President Biden's Memorandum on
Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and
Evidence-Based Policymaking, which was issued on January 27, 2021,
emphasizes the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to making
evidence-based decisions and developing policies and programs that
are guided by the best available scientific data.

The memo further stipulates, "Improper political interference in the
work of Federal scientists or other scientists who support the work
of the Federal Government and in the communication of scientific
facts undermines the welfare of the Nation, contributes to systemic
inequities and injustices, and violates the trust that the public
places in government to best serve its collective interests."

EPA career scientists have reviewed content shared in a January 19,
2021 press release, which can be found here , and made an initial
determination that the conclusions in the PFBS
(Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a PFAS compound) Toxicity Assessment
posted in that release were compromised by political interference as
well as infringement of authorship and the scientific independence of
the authors' conclusions. This constitutes a violation of the
agency's Scientific Integrity Policy and the documents have been
removed from the EPA website while the agency completes its review.

"Science is the backbone of EPA and allows the agency to effectively
pursue its mission to protect public health and the environment,"
said senior career scientist Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Acting
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development
and the agency's Acting Science Advisor. "Issuing documents, like the
PFBS Toxicity Assessment, that include conclusions purporting to
reflect science when in fact they are the product of biased political
interference undermines the agency's scientific integrity policy and
erodes the trust that the American public has in EPA, the quality of
our science, and our ability to protect their health and the
environment."

The release and the agency's website will be updated to indicate the
removal of the assessment and provide transparency around the
agency's actions.

"It is essential that the environmental policies, decisions,
guidance, and regulations that impact and protect the lives of
Americans are informed by the best available science. EPA is
committed to ensuring that the agency rests upon a strong foundation
of science," said Dr. Orme-Zavaleta.

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Last updated on February 9, 2021