A final EPA rollback under Trump curbs use of health studies

Environmental Protection ncy has completed one of its last major rollbacks under Trump ministration, changing how it considers evidence of harm from pollutants in a way that opponents say could cripple future public-health regulation. EPA ministrator Andrew Wheeler is expected to formally anunce completion of what he calls “Strengning Transparency in Regulatory Science” rule in an appearance before a conservative think tank on Tuesday. EPA completed final rule last week, but so far has declined to make text public.

new rule would require release of raw data from public-health studies whose findings EPA uses in determining danger of an air pollutant, toxic chemical or or threat. Big public-health studies that studied anymized results of countless people have been instrumental in setting limits on toxic substances, including in some of nation's most important clean-air protections.

Some industry and conservative groups have long pushed for what y called transparency rule. Opponents say aim was meant to handicap future regulation. In an opinion piece in Wall Street Journal on Monday night, Wheeler said change was in interest of transparency.

“If American people are to be regulated by interpretation of se scientific studies, y deserve to scrutinize data as part of scientific process and American self-government,” Wheeler wrote.

But critics say new rule could force disclosure of identities and details of individuals in public-health studies, jeopardizing medical confidentiality and future studies. Acemics, scientists, universities, public health and medical officials, environmental groups and ors have spoken out at public hearings and written to oppose change.

“This really seems to be an attempt by Wheeler to permanently let major polluters trample on public health,” said Benjamin Levitan, a senior attorney with Environmental Defense Fund vocacy group. “It ties hands of future ministrations in how y can protect public health.”

change could limit t only future public health protections, but “force ncy to revoke deces of clean air protections,” Chris Zarba, former he of EPA’s Science visory Board, said in a statement. Wheeler, in his Wall Street Journal piece, said new limits wouldn’t compel release of any personal data or “categorically” exclude any scientific work.

EPA has been one of most active ncies in carrying out President Donald Trump’s mandate to roll back regulations that conservative groups have identified as being unnecessary and burdensome to industry. Many of changes face court challenges and can be reversed by executive action or by lengthier bureaucratic process. But undoing m would take time and effort by incoming Biden ministration, which also has ambitious goals to fight climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions and lessen impact of pollutants on lower-income and mirity communities. 

(Im Credits: AP)