GOP Bill To Outlaw EPA 'Secret Science' That Is Not Transparent, Reproducible

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Fox News reports that Republican lawmakers in the House are pushing legislation that would prohibit the EPA from proposing new regulations based on science that is not transparent or not reproducible. The bill introduced by Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., would bar the agency from proposing or finalizing rules without first disclosing all "scientific and technical information" relied on to support its proposed action. "Public policy should come from public data, not based on the whims of far-left environmental groups," says Schweikert. "For far too long, the EPA has approved regulations that have placed a crippling financial burden on economic growth in this country with no public evidence to justify their actions." The bill, dubbed the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 (HR 4012), would prohibit the EPA's administrator from proposing or finalizing any rules unless he or she also discloses "all scientific and technical information" relied on by the agency in the regulations' development including all data, materials and computer models. According to Schweikert's press release a 2013 poll from the Institute of Energy Research found that 90 percent of Americans agree that studies and data used to make federal government decisions should be made public. "Provisions in the bill are consistent with the White House's scientific integrity policy, the President's Executive Order 13563, data access provisions of major scientific journals, the Bipartisan Policy Center and the recommendations of the Obama administration's top science advisors.""

Comments

Re:"Not Reproduclibe"

[sliceoflife]

Please don't post sensible replies like this. These are the stuff that they are able to "sell". This is what will ensure /. demise. Are you not aware what is going down? With no discernable "product" (aka "audience") slashdot towers may realise our actual worth, even if it might be too late Fuck Beta!

Not with a bang, but with a Beta.

[emmagsachs]

Beta is more than cosmetics or aesthetics. The new design ruins the one thing that makes /. what it is -- the commenting system. I only come here for the comments, not the 2-day old articles nor the erroneous summaries.

I do not see the changes of Beta as improvements. What is wrong with Slashdot that demands breaking its foundations? This is not change for the sake of change, but, as others have commented, an attempt to monetize /. at any any cost, and its users be damned.

Our complaints have fallen on deaf ears, and will continue to do so. Dice intends to dispose of Classic in favor of Beta, whether we like it or not. Do you know how to tell whether an executive really cares about feedback? If her CV doesn't proclaim the following "successes":

Proven track record innovating and improving iconic websites (CNET.com, Dice.com, Slashdot.org, Sourceforge.net) while protecting their voice and brand integrity

On topic replies?

[sliceoflife]

I know this is an interesting topic, but could people please explain why they are still posting on topic? I know the slashcott doesn't officially start til monday, but for some of you it seems you are quite unaware what the future of Slashdot actually holds, and are carrying on regardless. This will all be gone soon, or have I misunderstood Dice's plans and ignorance of what the slashdot audience really wants? Or do you honestly believe it'll all be ok?This is a serious question. I'm suspicious you are all shills, and confused why on posting, you all get straight to "score:2".