EPA's Contribution to Presidential Politics

Bureau of National Affairs
Daily Environment Report August 14, 1996



In late September, EPA is expected to release a report detailing the health effects of cross- media pollution on children. And although I have no idea what the significance is of "cross- media pollution," I know I can't wait to get a hold of this one!

The report is the brainchild of EPA Administrator Carol Browner. It is being led by the Office of Research and Development (ORD), EPA's research arm. ORD has apparently given up on ever having a good reputation among the scientific community.

An unnamed EPA source said that the agency's assistant administrators have been asked to provide "any data that they have on children." With such narrowly focused research and quality control (i.e., they're looking for "any data"), I have lots of confidence that the report will easily make the October Junk Science Hall of Shame.

And, of course, there will be no peer review. EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) said that it has no plans to review the report. I guess the 95 percent probability that the SAB would simply rubber-stamp the report wasn't quite certain enough for Administrator Browner.

A former EPA official said that the purposes for releasing the report in September are (1) to attack Republican Bob Dole's stance on environmental issues, (2) to call attention to efforts of the 104th Congress to roll back environmental regulation, and (3) to spotlight the Republican platform's call for giving states a greater role in environmental protection efforts.

If EPA wants to play a role in the Presidential election, why can't it simply encourage its employees to vote for the candidate of their choice? Is it really necessary to use tax dollars to manufacture and market junk science in hope of garnering a few votes?

Stay tuned for this one...

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