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  • Washington Highlights

    AAMC, AAU, APLU, COGR Submit Letter to EPA Opposing Proposed Rule on Scientific Research

    Heather Pierce, Senior Director, Science Policy & Regulatory Counsel

    The AAMC July 11 submitted a joint letter with the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly opposing a proposed rule that seeks to limit the science the agency could consider in rulemaking on research for which all underlying data are publicly available. The associations express concern that the proposed rule “thwarts the promise of evidence-based policymaking, squarely contradicting the requirement that the EPA use the ‘best available science’ to make its regulatory decisions.”

    Recognizing that the mechanisms of competitive grant funding and peer review of publications serve to ensure the validity of science and integrity of research even when the data are not available to the public, the letter urges that the agency to withdraw the proposed rule and discuss with the scientific community how evidence-based policy should be developed to protect human health and the environment. The letter assets that “the trend toward data transparency championed by the Associations and by foundations and science agencies around the world is predicated on the view that peer-reviewed, published studies already have presumptive scientific merit.”

    EPA extended the comment period on this proposal until August 17, and it will hold a public hearing on July 17 to obtain additional stakeholder input on the proposal.