March 20, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, at the Heritage Foundation EPA administrator Scott Pruitt announced plans to stymy the use of science at the EPA, placing relevant data such as health research off-limits by restricting the agency to only public data. This is a similar strategy tobacco companies have used to conceal the dangers of smoking.
In response, Sierra Club Associate Director of Federal & Administrative Advocacy Matthew Gravatt released the following statement:
“Scott Pruitt’s relentless assault on science continues, and this proposal is ripped straight from the Big Tobacco playbook. Just like we know that cigarettes are dangerous, we too know that pollution and climate disruption pose a threat to our families — but Pruitt wants to try Big Tobacco’s tricks to hide the truth. By limiting what studies can be used to help keep our air and water clean, our climate safe, and our homes free of toxic chemicals, Pruitt is trying to make it harder for the EPA to protect the health and safety of American families. He’d even subject private health data to public exposure This policy is so dangerous to our health that it should come with a Surgeon General’s warning.”
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is “to protect human health and the environment.” Disgraced EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt tried his best to undermine this vital mission by choosing to slash critical health protections and let corporate polluters off the hook. Now that Pruitt’s been booted, we need an EPA administrator dedicated to undoing his toxic agenda and restoring the agency to its core mission. Progress is possible and necessary – but another corporate crony or climate skeptic will not get us there.
Scott Pruitt is gone, but the fight is just beginning. We need an EPA administrator who puts our health and environment first, period. Any alternative is unacceptable.
