AIBS Comments on EPA's Draft Scientific Integrity Policy

Ms. Lisa Jackson Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Re: Draft Scientific Integrity Policy Dear Administrator Jackson, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft scientific integrity policy. The policy will help ensure public trust in EPA science. The draft policy, however, could be significantly strengthened with several key additions. The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is a nonprofit scientific association dedicated to advancing biological research and education for the welfare of society. Founded in 1947 as a part of the National Academy of Sciences, AIBS became an independent, member-governed organization in the 1950s. AIBS is sustained by a robust membership of individual biologists and nearly 200 professional societies and scientific organizations with a combined individual membership exceeding 250,000. Applicability to Employees The agency’s decision to apply the policy to all EPA employees and appointees who engage in, supervise, or manage scientific activities; analyze or communicate scientific information; or use such information to make decisions is commendable. Universal coverage is essential to ensuring that the policy is effective. It is vital that decision-makers are subject to the policy, otherwise the potential exists for decision-makers to misrepresent, alter, or suppress scientific information. The inclusion...
Source: ActionBioscience - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news