60 Percent Of EPA Staff Have ‘Personally Experienced’ ‘Political Interference’
60 Percent Of EPA Staff Have ‘Personally Experienced’ ‘Political Interference’
Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released a report detailing the increasing politicization of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists surveyed, 889 of them — 60 percent — “said they had personally experienced at least one instance of political interference in their work over the last five years.” Other key findings from the report:
– 394 scientists (31 percent) personally experienced frequent or occasional “statements by EPA officials that misrepresent scientists’ findings.”
– 285 scientists (22 percent) said they frequently or occasionally personally experienced “selective or incomplete use of data to justify a specific regulatory outcome.”
– 224 scientists (17 percent) said they had been “directed to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information from an EPA scientific document.”
– Hundreds of scientists reported being unable to openly express concerns about the EPA’s work without fear of retaliation; 492 (31 percent) felt they could not speak candidly within the agency and 382 (24 percent) felt they could not do so outside the agency.
What’s more, among the various offices and divisions of the EPA, the National Center for Environmental Assessment — “where scientists conduct risk assessments that could lead to strengthened regulations” — had the highest percentage of scientists reporting interferences, at 84 percent. This is unsurprising, considering that some of the highest profile examples of prioritizing ideology over science have occurred when the White House wants to weaken environmental regulation:
– Bush intervened at the 11th hour to weaken or kill scientifically-recommended standards on ozone protection. [3/18/08]
– Johnson ignored EPA staffers to reject California’s waiver to strengthen greenhouse gas emissions standards. [12/21/07]
– The EPA concealed a scientific study that “would have forced the agency to consider more stringent controls” on acceptable mercury levels. [3/22/05]
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee Henry Waxman (D-CA) wrote a letter today to Johnson, warning him that, when Johnson testifies in May, he should “expect members of the Committee to ask about these survey results and other evidence of political interference with science at EPA.”
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100% of ex-Alabama governors and ex-U.S. Attorney Generals have, too.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pmCan someone help - I lost my glasses…
Does that say “political incompetence”?
I would have guessed that would be closer to 100%.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pmIsn’t the penalty for that fifteen yards and an automatic first down?
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:28 pmGeorge W says We don’t need no stinking science”.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:31 pmOther “Scientific” findings from the bush mal-administration include, The earth is 5000 yrs old, Dinosaurs walked with man, Evolution is a hoax, Creationism is rock solid science and Bush himself is in possesion of powers that enable him to look into the eyes of others and assess their souls purity as well as having a direct and open conduit that permits him to have conversations with God.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pmWhose wounds are these so full of blood.
Their house was in the N’awlins flood;
They will not see him stopping here
To watch them shovel endless mud.
Their SUV is stocked with gear
They need stop ‘n get more beer
And though we know the man a snake
He makes the terrorists disappear.
He gives harshness to lungs that ache
Concede they must to their mistake.
The only other sound’s the Veep
A sleazy constitutional fake.
The wounds thereof so stark from sheep
The blood of misled yet to weep
And wars to start from guarded keep,
And wars to start from guarded keep.
-with apologies to Mr Frost
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 pmHopefully, our next president will reverse the erosion that has afflicted EPA and other government agencies, such as the DoJ and FEMA. I just hope they aren’t too far gone now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 pmAs the great philosopher Colbert noted, “Facts have a noted liberal bias.” and all these agencies deal with nothing but facts. There has to be some balance to all these facts, so that’s where Bush comes in……
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:49 pmWHY would these people jeopardize the health and well-being of the people of this world by altering the words of the scientists who are trying to protect us?! This is blasphemy!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pmWell, when you are the self-appointed “Decider,” and think all this government stuff would be easier if you were the dictator, these kinds of things happen and people feel this way.
No doubt these scientists feel boxed in a corner when the deciding dictator wants scientific things to go his way. A lot of Americans feel boxed in the same corner with all the crap Georgie-boy has dished out on us.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pmSounds like Faith based mis-management to me.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pmRUCerious Says:
Faith based or Feith based mis-management?
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:54 pmrobbez~ wouldn’t that be one and the same thing?
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 pmIt takes quite a bit to make Tommy Franks look like a genius….
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 pmIt becomes clearer to me every day that the Right never really hated Totalitarianism/Communism because as a economic and political system it persecuted and exploited people, nor because it was Godless. Naw, they hated it because they were friggin green with envy. Now, they are finally getting their chance.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:32 pmDictators corrupt everything they are connected to, and Bush for sure has corrupted the entire government to the point where maybe everyone should be fired and restarted anew.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 pmThe “War on Science” is alive and well.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm