Bush Admin. to use more politics, less science, in setting clean-air standards

The Bush administration is moving to use more politics and less science in the setting of national
clean air standards.

The current scientific process of setting standards – a process that has worked well for decades – would be replaced by a more political process. And this is specifically designed to prevent EPA career scientists from recommending tighter standards for ozone, or smog. (The agency is reviewing this standard under a court agreement; and recent science has found a strong link between breathing smog and dying early.)

The current process involves scientific interaction between EPA staff scientists and its outside science advisers. Draft staff paper reviewed by science advisers. Staff paper revision, another review by science advisers, etc.

Under the new process, EPA would deal with the issue like any other rulemaking – including early involvement by OMB. The outside science advisers would not be brought into the process until later in the game. As a result, the process will become more political, and less scientific. And EPA’s career scientists would not be able to frame the issues.

The Bush administration feels it was embarrassed because on the particle soot question, it was boxed in: both EPA career staff and the outside science advisers recommended something tougher than the White House wants. That has led to terrible pr. The Bush administration wants to make sure that never happens again.