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As scientists and technical experts, we urge you to cease any plans to restrict the types of science that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can use in regulatory decisionmaking. EPA can only adequately
protect our air and water and keep us safe from harmful chemicals if it takes full advantage of the wealth of
scientific research that is available to the agency.
Recent news reports1 suggest that you plan to adopt restrictions on research similar to those contained in
two pieces of proposed legislation (the Secret Science Reform Act and the HONEST Act), which have both
repeatedly failed to pass Congress for several years for good reason.2 Multiple major scientific societies
repeatedly came out strongly against the legislation at the time. “We urge caution in setting laws that
submerge science beneath politics,” they wrote.3
Proponents for these radical restrictions purport to raise two sets of concerns: reproducibility and
transparency. In reality, these are phony issues that weaponize ‘transparency’ to facilitate political
interference in science-based decisionmaking, rather than genuinely address either. The result will be
policies and practices that will ignore significant risks to the health of every American.
First, many public health studies cannot be replicated, as doing so would require intentionally and
unethically exposing people and the environment to harmful contaminants or recreating one-time events
(such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill). Second, there are multiple valid reasons why requiring the release
of all data does not improve scientific integrity and could actually compromise research, including
intellectual property, proprietary, and privacy concerns. Further, EPA has historically been transparent in
demonstrating the scientific basis of its decisions, so the public can hold the agency accountable to establish
evidence-based safeguards; any changes should be made with the full consultation with and support of the
scientific community.
There are ways to improve transparency in the decisionmaking process, but restricting the use of science
would improve neither transparency nor the quality of EPA decisionmaking. If fully implemented, this
proposal would greatly weaken EPA’s ability to comprehensively consider the scientific evidence across the
full array of health effects studies. This would negatively impact EPA public protections that reduce levels of
lead, harmful chemicals, and fine particle pollution, among others.
Again, we urge you to stop any plans to restrict the science that EPA can use in decision-making across the
board or on any specific issue, and instead to protect the integrity of science at EPA. We stand by ready to
help EPA fulfill its science-based mission to protect public health and the environment.
Sincerely,
The undersigned,
985 scientists
Cc:
Matthew Z. Leopold, General Counsel
William Wehrum, Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation
Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science
Neomi Rao, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
1
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/daily-caller-scott-pruitt-will-end-epas-use-secret-science-justify-regulations
2
https://blog.ucsusa.org/gretchen-goldman/scott-pruitt-will-restrict-the-epas-use-of-legitimate-science
3
https://mcmprodaaas.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-
public/HR%201430%20HONEST%20Act%20Multisociety%20Letter%20of%20Concern.pdf
William Armbruster, Ph.D. Wendy Arundale, Ph.D. Megan McPhee, Ph.D.
Fairbanks, AK 99709 Fairbanks, AK 99709 Juneau, AK 99801
John Griffith, Ph.D. Thomas Daniel Gross, B.S. Bill Guernsey, M.S.
Garden Grove, CA 92840 Los Gatos, CA 95030 Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Florence Haas, M.S. Lauren Hall, Ph.D. Andrew Hamilton, Post doc
Palo Alto, CA 94301 San Jose, CA 95112 West Sacramento, CA 95691
John Holtzclaw, M.S. Nicholas Hooper, Post doc Robin Ikeda, M.S.
San Francisco, CA 94133 Berkeley, CA 94707 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
Joseph Illick, Ph.D. Andreas Kadavanich, Ph.D. Carrie Kappel, Ph.D.
San Francisco, CA 94110 Fremont, CA 94538 Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Armin Kleinboehl, Post doc Carol Kornfeld, M.S. Arthur Krakowsky, M.S.
Long Beach, CA 90803 Portola Valley, CA 94028 Livermore, CA 94550
Ashley Kranjac, Post doc Kerry Kravitz, M.D. Patricia Kremer, Ph.D.
Orange, CA 92866 Portola Valley, CA 94028 Pacifica, CA 94044
Patricia Blair Lacy, M.S. Ronald Lanner, Ph.D. Allen Lavee, M.D.
San Mateo, CA 94401 Placerville, CA 95667 San Rafael, CA 94901
Prashanth Mundkur, Ph.D. Carroll Nast, M.S. Melissa Newton, Ph.D. candidate
Menlo Park, CA 94025 Colfax, CA 95713 El Cerrito, CA 94530
Deb Niemeier, Ph.D. Robert Nolty, Ph.D. Sahar Nouredini, Ph.D.
Davis, CA 95618 Pasadena, CA 91101 San Leandro, CA 94577
Geeta Persad, Post doc Michael Pollak, Ph.D. David Reichmuth, Ph.D.
Oakland, CA 94607 San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Oakland, CA 94602
Peter Schwartz, M.S. James Scott, M.S. Bruce Scotton M.D., M.D.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 El Cerrito, CA 94530 Larkspur, CA 94939
David Sedlak, Post doc John Sefton, Ph.D. Fredrick Seil, M.D.
Berkeley, CA 94708 Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678 Berkeley, CA 94708
Anne Senter, Ph.D. Kathy Setian, M.S. Jane Shevtsov, Post doc
Burbank, CA 91505 San Francisco, CA 94131 Encino, CA 91316
Joseph Shinnerl, Ph.D. Edmund Smith, Ph.D. Richard Solomon, Ph.D.
Santa Clara, CA 95054 Sebastopol, CA 95472 Oakland, CA 94611
Edmund Wright, M.S. Robert Zimmerman, Ph.D. Susan Kelly Ambler, Ph.D.
McKinleyville, CA 95519 Tahoe City, CA 96145 Denver, CO 80206
John Hall, M.S. William Hay, Post doc Eric Hintsa, Ph.D.
Grand Jct, CO 81507 Estes Park, CO 80517 Boulder, CO 80304
Mark Houdashelt, Ph.D. Kenneth Kutalek, M.D. Thomas La Point, Post doc
Fort Collins, CO 80521 Evergreen, CO 80439 Fort Collins, CO 80526
Lee O'Brien, Ph.D. candidate Lorrie Odom, M.D. George Oetzel, Ph.D.
Fort Collins, CO 80521 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Boulder, CO 80305
Ted Von Hippel, Ph.D. Robert West, Ph.D. Jeremy Winick, Ph.D.
Boulder, CO 80304 Denver, CO 80220 Westminster, CO 80031
Peter Auster, Ph.D. Vanessa Boukili, Ph.D. Jacob Chachkes, M.D.
Chester, CT 06412 Storrs, CT 06269 New Canaan, CT 06840
Tyeen Taylor, Ph.D. John Van Leer, Ph.D. Brenda Westhorp, M.S.
South Miami, FL 33143 Miami, FL 33138 Miami, FL 33138
George Wilder, Post doc Norris Williams, Ph.D. Philip Wood, Ph.D.
Naples, FL 34102 Gainesville, FL 32605 Orlando, FL 32827
Chang-Yu Wu, Ph.D. Keaton Michael Belli, Ph.D. Terrence Donovan, Ph.D.
Gainesville, FL 32606 Atlanta, GA 30306 Decatur, GA 30030
Daniel Dresner, Ph.D. candidate John Felton, Ph.D. Cherryl Friedman, M.D.
Beverly Shores, IN 46301 Newburgh, IN 47630 Noblesville, IN 46062
Janet Scott, Ph.D. candidate Paul Todd, Ph.D. Peter Waser, Ph.D.
Bloomington, IN 47403 Greenville, IN 47124 Lafayette, IN 47905
Beverly Hector-Smith, M.S. Yozen Hernandez, Ph.D. candidate Philip Hurzeler, Ph.D.
Natick, MA 01760 Allston, MA 02134 Newburyport, MA 01950
Dean Bruce Langmuir, M.S. Susan Leschine, Ph.D. Carly Levy, M.S.
Sudbury, MA 01776 Leverett, MA 01054 Pembroke, MA 02359
Ildiko Kovach, M.S. Karen Kuehl, M.D. Matt Limmer, Post doc
Silver Spring, MD 20902 Silver Spring, MD 20901 Charlestown, MD 21914
Adria Schwarber, Ph.D. candidate Richard Smith, Ph.D. Sara Via, Ph.D.
College Park, MD 41073 Rockville, MD 20855 Ellicott City, MD 21042
Beverly Stewart, M.S. Shri Verrill Verrill, M.S. John Williams, Ph.D.
Portland, ME 04101 Surry, ME 04684 Lincolnville, ME 04849
Kenneth Piers, Post doc Gopal Prasad, Ph.D. Michael Raymond, M.B.A.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Shelby Township, MI 48315
William Arnold, Ph.D. David Clapper, Ph.D. Debra Debruin, Post doc
Minnetonka, MN 55345 Duluth, MN 55804 Roseville, MN 55113
Tori Espensen, Post doc William Faber, Ph.D. Mike Foreman, M.S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408 Brainerd, MN 56401 Lakeville, MN 55044
Rodney Johnson, Ph.D. James Lipka, Post doc Sean McCauley, Ph.D.
Minneapolis, MN 55406 Columbia Heights, MN 55421 Rochester, MN 55902
Elaine Caton, Ph.D. Gina Himes Boor, Ph.D. Jessica Hopkins, M.S.
Ovando, MT 59854 Bozeman, MT 59715 Whitefish, MT 59937
Anna Klene, Ph.D. Michelle Lute, Post doc Twila Moon, Ph.D.
Missoula, MT 59804 Missoula, MT 59802 Big Sky, MT 59716
Kenneth Kneidel, Ph.D. Barry Lentz, Ph.D. Diane Markoff, Post doc
Charlotte, NC 28211 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 Durham, NC 27715
Gail Marsh, Ph.D. Deborah Milkowski, M.D. Leonard Mole, Post doc
Durham, NC 27705 Wilmington, NC 28405 Cary, NC 27511
Thomas Mutton, M.D. Donna Newman, Ph.D. David Nichols, Post doc
Lewisville, NC 27023 Raleigh, NC 27606 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Susan Yarnell, Ph.D. candidate Kenneth Deffenbacher, Ph.D. David Ellis, Ph.D.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Omaha, NE 68104 Londonderry, NH 03053
Adam Koranyi, Post doc Sarah Emily Labance Ph.D., Ph.D. Meredith Manze, Ph.D.
Tenafly, NJ 07670 Vernon, NJ 07462 Montclair, NJ 07042
William Buss, Post doc Christian Carrico, Ph.D. Janet Darrow, Ph.D.
Corrales, NM 87048 Socorro, NM 87801 Mesilla, NM 88046
Andrew Schuler, Ph.D. Rebecca M Summer, M.S. Paul Watson, Post doc
Albuquerque, NM 87106 Silver City, NM 88061 Albuquerque, NM 87107
Chris Baugher, Ph.D. candidate Brenda Buck, Ph.D. Pamela Burnley, Ph.D.
Henderson, NV 89015 Henderson, NV 89052 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Jean Naples, Post doc Dina Newman, Ph.D. Alicia Perez-Fuentetaja, Ph.D.
West Haverstraw, NY 10993 Rochester, NY 14610 Buffalo, NY 14222
William Katzin, M.D. Warren Kerrigan, Ph.D. John Lenhart, Post doc
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 North Royalton, OH 44133 Columbus, OH 43212
Joni Manson, Ph.D. Arthur Murdoch, Ph.D. Stanton Musick, Ph.D. candidate
Westerville, OH 43081 Atwater, OH 44201 Bellbrook, OH 45305
Susan Righi, M.D. George Sorial, Ph.D. Pamela Unger, M.S.
New Marshfield, OH 45766 Cincinnati, OH 45221 Columbus, OH 43229
Ned Knight, Ph.D. Edward J Kushner, Ph.D. Dr. Beverly Law, Ph.D.
Newberg, OR 97132 Portland, OR 97239 Corvallis, OR 97330
Arthur Miller, Post doc Gary Millhollen, Ph.D. Chris Moser, M.S.
Sisters, OR 97759 Eugene, OR 97408 Corvallis, OR 97330
Andrew Rorick, M.S. Michael Stock, Ph.D. Mark Surette, Ph.D. candidate
Baker City, OR 97814 Portland, OR 97223 Corvallis, OR 97331
Joseph Bridy, M.S. Thomas Campbell, M.S. Jeffrey Carey, Ph.D. candidate
Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia, PA 19146 Philadelphia, PA 19128
Shubham Das, Ph.D. candidate John Dawson, Ph.D. Carsten Dr. Skarke, M.D.
Philadelphia, PA 19104 York, PA 17403 Philadelphia, PA 19104
Sol W Englander, Post doc Gordon N. Fleming, Ph.D. James Foskett, Ph.D.
Malvern, PA 19355 State College, PA 16803 Ardmore, PA 19003
Katherine Heflin, M.S. Michelle Homan, Ph.D. Mitchell Hunter, Ph.D. candidate
Philadelphia, PA 19144 Erie, PA 16541 State College, PA 16803
Alandra Kahl, M.S. Barbara Knickerbocker, Ph.D. Sravya Kotaru, Ph.D. candidate
Monroeville, PA 15146 West Chester, PA 19380 Philadelphia, PA 19104
Michael Lampson, Ph.D. Christopher Langmead, Ph.D. Roger Latham, Post doc
Philadelphia, PA 19104 Monroeville, PA 15146 Rose Valley, PA 19086
Lenore Melmeyer, Ph.D. Joe Moore, Post doc Thomas H Pritchett, M.S.
Pittsburgh, PA 15241 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Easton, PA 18042
Robert Schwartz, M.D. Emidio Sivieri, M.S. Edward Thornton, Post doc
Coraopolis, PA 15108 Philadelphia, PA 19118 Swarthmore, PA 19081
Rainer Lohmann, Post doc Jared Minkel, Ph.D. Alan Wartenberg, M.D.
Narragansett, RI 02882 North Kingstown, RI 02852 Providence, RI 02906
Eleanor O'Meara Hare, Ph.D. Robert Sutton, M.S. Keith Walters, Ph.D.
Clemson, SC 29631 Sunset, SC 29685 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Cynthia Rohrbach, M.S. Jeff Wardeska, Ph.D. Martha Riherd Weller, Ph.D.
Summertown, TN 38483 Johnson City, TN 37604 Brentwood, TN 37027
Carlos Alvarez, M.P.H. Karen Hill, M.D. Lee Huber, Ph.D.
Austin, TX 78749 Georgetown, TX 78626 Rockwall, TX 75087
Kevin Rolfes, M.S. Catherine Rondelli, Post doc Melanie Sattler, Ph.D.
Austin, TX 78737 Houston, TX 77083 Arlington, TX 76010
Stephen Taylor, M.D. Ray C. Telfair II, Ph.D. Diane Teter, M.S.
Rockwall, TX 75032 Whitehouse, TX 75791 Edinburg, TX 78539
James Reid, M.S. Craig Rightmire, Ph.D. candidate Gary Schafran, Ph.D.
Woodberry Forest, VA 22989 Roanoke, VA 24011 Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Clove Haviva, Post doc Monika Ivancic, Ph.D. Mark Kelley, M.S.
Warren, VT 05674 Burlington, VT 05408 Randolph Center, VT 05061
David Cosman, Post doc James Davis, Ph.D. Wendy Dickerman, M.S.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Wenatchee, WA 98801 Vancouver, WA 98685
Thomas Hall, Ph.D. Robert Juracka, M.S. Kathleen Karrer, Post doc
Janesville, WI 53545 Amherst, WI 54406 Whitefish Bay, WI 53217