EPA dismisses dozens of key science advisers picked under Trump

[DonViejo]

Source: Washington Post


The Biden administration says it needs to restore trust in the agency by “resetting” membership on two key science advisory panels

By Dino Grandoni
March 31, 2021 at 11:33 a.m. EDT

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan will purge more than 40 outside experts appointed by President Donald Trump from two key advisory panels, a move he says will help restore the role of science at the agency and reduce the heavy influence of industry over environmental regulations.

The unusual decision, announced Wednesday, will sweep away outside researchers picked under the previous administration whose expert advice helped the agency craft regulations related to air pollution, fracking and other issues.

Critics say that under Trump, membership of the two panels — the EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) — tilted too heavily toward regulated industries and their positions sometimes contradicted scientific consensus.

The Biden administration said the move is one of several to reestablish scientific integrity across the federal government after what it characterizes as a concerted effort under the previous president to sideline or interfere with research on climate change, the novel coronavirus and other issues.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/03/31/epa-advisory-panels/

[PortTack]

1. Good news..just in time for upcoming earth day..4/22/21

[dalton99a]

2. Root them all out and get rid of them

[soothsayer]

3. Fantastic

[bucolic_frolic]

4. WAPO making it sound like something abnormal - "unusual"??

Trump was the abnormal! This is getting us back on the path of the 40+ year history of the EPA.

Labeling those siding with Biden's administration against Trump as "critics". And "what it characterizes" ...

This is a piece written to slant against Biden's actions IMO.

[Ligyron]

18. Wapo has printed a couple anti Biden Administration pieces lately

Forgot what they were tho’

[SergeStorms]

27. Trying to look "fair and balanced"...

so the few remaining conservative subscribers don't have a cow, I guess. It's all about the Tubman's, after all.

[DENVERPOPS]

39. It's been going on

ever since Newt Gingrich threatened NPR with withdrawing fed money
unless they started the "He said She said" shit, at a bare minimum......

His infamous Contract With America, was a complete misrepresentation,
It was more like Contract ON America........

[SergeStorms]

43. Funny...

that the republiCONS want to revive the Fairness Doctrine when they need it, but in no way should it apply to Democrats. Go figure.

[DENVERPOPS]

40. Do you remember

when W appointed Republican Gale Norton from Colorado to the EPA.
She let Dow completely off the hook for the cleanup of Rocky Flats. It guaranteed her advancement by the RepubliCONs to the Federal Government.

And then, of course there was Republican Ann? Gorsuch and the damage she did.....Supreme Court justice's mother..........

Oh, and don't forget Republican Christy Todd Whitman during the 9/11 attack and her intentional supreme screw up during that.....

Every time the Republicans are in office, they trash everything good that the Dems have tried to do......

[bucolic_frolic]

42. GOP wants no regulation (max pollution) because it's cheaper for their businesses

and portfolios.

This conflict may lessen as businesses communicate better on processes and waste because one company's waste and discharge is raw materials for another company's products or processes. But it requires cooperation and effort and I would suspect sometimes government seed money.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. So, the EPA is

going back to PROTECT the environment, not make PROFIT from the environment.

I like it - Thanks, Joe!!!!

[onetexan]

25. This!!

[DENVERPOPS]

47. Biden can start

with reversing everything that shit head in Montana did. Trump allowed him to screw over all kinds of regulations. When he was done, he quickly retired and Trump just put in another environmental destroyer.......

[lapfog_1]

6. slowly but surely

Biden is "de-trumpifying" the federal government.

[SergeStorms]

28. It's a long tough hail.

Drumpf had no idea who any of these people were, so he just had industry insiders make up lists of their favorite polluters, and then had the industry insiders in his administration appoint their favorite industry insiders, insiders. Does that make sense? No, nothing made sense in the Drumpf administration.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Good. And I hope those that come in afterwards (picked by Biden) will follow up on what these

thugs did in the meantime, e.g., scam $ out of industry members / kickbacks / etc. and prosecute those that deserve it.

I don't trust anything rump did, and won't be surprised if he asked for a kickback from everyone of his (djt) appointees.

[NoMoreRepugs]

8. A fact based administration is literally a breath of fresh air.

[Maxheader]

9. Bu bye bye...

fuzzy science guys...

[lunatica]

10. It looks like science is in again!

[byronius]

11. I was CalEPA's liason to the federal EPA during this time.

The data people were aghast. Everyone just kept their heads down. It was the Worst for them.

I still don't understand why Republicans are so intent on poisoning their own people. It's fucking weird and awful.

Gone for the moment. May they never return.

[LT Barclay]

14. Were you ever part of the RRT meetings out there?

I'll never forget how an EPA rep at one said that he voting for Bush so he could get back to doing his real job because (according to him) all he did under Clinton was community outreach.
I've always wondered how he feels about that now.

[byronius]

45. My role was data and reporting.

I interfaced with all the serious data gurus who managed to avoid the axe because no one else knew how they did what they did.

They’re happy now. And I’m happy for them.

I loved what Meredith Williams did. She’s a great CalEPA director, best ever. Smart, strong woman with a degree in physics. Very approachable — I once had a half hour conversation with her about the future of the agency that was fully amazing.

[BobTheSubgenius]

12. To work at the EPA, I think that, at a minimum...

...you should have to believe in the existence, and validity, of actual science.

[ffr]

13. Clean sweep all of these anarchists and chaos sowers out of all agencies

Clean sweep all of these anarchists and chaos sowers out of all agencies! If their title includes T---- appointee, show them the door. All of them!

[Evolve Dammit]

15. Good news for mother earth. Happy Earth Day early

[NewHendoLib]

16. keep tossing out the trash, Joe!

[calimary]

17. Clean house, Mr. President!

Good job! Keep it up!

[bronxiteforever]

19. Kick and recommend.

[Marthe48]

20. Does this mean I can delete the files I downloaded from the EPA site before they crubbed?

n/t

[bucolic_frolic]

21. They were industry hacks, not science advisors

WAPO spoon feeding their own right wing labels on things doesn't make them true. Just makes them twisted in my opinion.

[Quakerfriend]

22. Knowing Trump picks, it's doubtful

They were “experts” or even qualified scientists

[Hekate]

23. Thank. God.

There is a new sheriff in town.

[SunSeeker]

24. Don't let the door hit ya, swampthings!

[ProfessorGAC]

26. I Still Don't Get The Dereg Zealotry

Companies already have 10s of billions in sunk capital on emission mitigation.
The day to day operating costs are a pittance because it requires one person, at most, and most are highly automated.
The long term depreciation on that capital raises expenses, thereby lowering the taxable net income. Hence, the tax bill goes down.
Eliminating the regulations is not the money pot advertised.
Either it's libertarian faith (aka nonsense) that propels people to that position, or they've been suckered into believing there's big profits to be obtained. There isn't.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

29. EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and Science Advisory Board (SAB)

All Federal Advisory Committees at EPA
Last Updated 03/29/2021

EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)

EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)

[Layzeebeaver]

30. WHY is this "an unusual decision"

Go figure...

[iluvtennis]

31. Excellent news! nt

[TomDaisy]

32. BUH BYE

[BigmanPigman]

33. Every day gets better and better.

I am still in transition I think. When I hear "the president" on the news I still look for the remote control's mute button. It is an automatic behavior after 4 years of the fucking moron.

[SheltieLover]

34. Yaaaaaay!

[mountain grammy]

35. The actual draining of the swamp.

[ShazzieB]

36. Considering that they were appointed by Chump....

I suggest an addition to the headline, as follows:

EPA dismisses dozens of key "science advisers" picked under Trump 😁

[Mysterian]

37. Trump "science advisors"

[Raine]

38. WONDERFUL!!!! 👍 nt

[greenjar_01]

41. Buh bye

[oldsoftie]

44. "science" and "trump" in the same sentence?

[Ilsa]

46. Good riddance. nt