Washington, D.C. – Ahead of embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s expected announcement of a rule that would severely limit what science the EPA can use in its decision making, the League of Conservation Voters released the following statement from Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld:

“This is a blatant attack on science that undermines the EPA’s ability to protect our health and environment, akin to Big Tobacco’s attempt to hide the truth about smoking. Pruitt’s ‘secret science’ sham would limit the EPA’s ability to use the best research on the health effects of pollution, which form the basis for vitally important protections that keep our families safe. Pruitt’s attempt to disguise this as a ‘transparency’ measure is particularly outrageous at a time when he is under federal investigation for his secretive and shady behavior.”

Pruitt’s proposal is based on Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX)’s H.R. 1430, which passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. That bill would have restricted health studies that the EPA could use by requiring that data be shared with anyone willing to sign a vague confidentiality agreement, severely limiting the EPA’s ability to use data that includes studies with confidential health information. LCV included the vote on 2017’s National Environmental Scorecard.