To: From: Sent: Subject:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] POLITICO Pro Energy Whiteboard Thur 11/9/2017 9:50:09 PM Senators ask GAO to review Pruitt's advisory board grant ban
By Alex Guillen
11/09/2017 04:48 PM EDT
Nine Senate Democrats and independent Bernie Sanders today asked the GAO to expand a previous inquiry into EPA's advisory boards to include Administrator Scott Pruitt's new directive barring grant-holders from serving on those committees.
GAO is already considering the independence of EPA's various advisory committees following complaints from the lawmakers about whether Pruitt was protecting their independence and neutrality.
The lawmakers pointed to a 2004 court ruling in which the 5th Circuit said the presence of federal grant recipients on a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advisory board was not a valid reason to reject the scientists' recommendations.
"The double-standard is striking: an academic scientist that receives an EPA grant for any purpose cannot provide independent advice on a completely different subject matter on any of EPA's science advisory boards, while industry scientists are presumed to have no inherent conflict even if their research is entirely funded by a company with a financial stake in an advisory board's conclusions," the lawmakers wrote.
The letter was signed by Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tom Carper of Delaware, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Sanders of Vermont, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Gary Peters of Michigan, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Al Franken of Minnesota.
To view online'. https://www.politicopro.eom/energy/whiteboard/2017/l 1/senators-ask-gao-to-review-pruittsadvisory-board-grant-ban-095503
Was this Pro content helpful? Tell us what you think in one click.
Yes, very.
Somewhat
Neutral
Not really
Not at all
You received this POLITICO .Pro content because your customized settings include:
Energy: EPA. To change your alert settings, please go to
https://www.politicopro.com/settings
This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002451 -00001
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002451-00002