EPA scientists complain about political pressure

[umbrella39]

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday by an advocacy group.

The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work.

EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar attributed some of the discontent to the "passion" scientists have toward their work. He said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, as a longtime career scientist at the EPA himself, "weighs heavily the science given to him by the staff in making policy decisions."

But Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program, said the survey results revealed "an agency in crisis" and "under siege from political pressures" especially among scientists involved in risk assessment and crafting regulations.

"The investigation shows researchers are generally continuing to do their work, but their scientific findings are tossed aside when it comes time to write regulations," said Grifo.

Full Article

When corporations and the politicians in their back pockets have the ability to alter scientific findings and reports, we are all in deep shit. If politicians want to lie, fine I expect that of them, but we can't trust the EPA any longer? Or could we ever? I fear we have past the point of getting all the facts any longer to make informed decisions. We get watered down findings and policy crafted by corporate pressure. It seems pretty clear that one side of the argument is trying to hide something.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: umbrella39

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday by an advocacy group.

The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work.

EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar attributed some of the discontent to the "passion" scientists have toward their work. He said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, as a longtime career scientist at the EPA himself, "weighs heavily the science given to him by the staff in making policy decisions."

But Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program, said the survey results revealed "an agency in crisis" and "under siege from political pressures" especially among scientists involved in risk assessment and crafting regulations.

"The investigation shows researchers are generally continuing to do their work, but their scientific findings are tossed aside when it comes time to write regulations," said Grifo.

Full Article

When corporations and the politicians in their back pockets have the ability to alter scientific findings and reports, we are all in deep shit. If politicians want to lie, fine I expect that of them, but we can't trust the EPA any longer? Or could we ever? I fear we have past the point of getting all the facts any longer to make informed decisions. We get watered down findings and policy crafted by corporate pressure. It seems pretty clear that one side of the argument is trying to hide something.

The article does not mention sides. It just says political interference. This could mean that this interference can go both ways. Environmental Protection is a business. People are in fact getting lots of money from the facade of protecting the earth. Theres no reason not to believe they are paying people to say that GW is the worst thing that has happened for the past 300 million years

 

[umbrella39]

While your argument may in fact be correct, which side do you think has the most pull/leverage/money? I am pretty sure there is *slightly* more money in polluting the earth (just as an example) than there is in protecting it. Not to mention one side has only been around for a few years, the other has been protecting their best interests for decades.

 

[ProfJohn]

Not sure I would agree 100% umbrella.

Which side gets all the press coverage and which side are all the politicians running to be seen on?

It is possible that the politicians are quietly pushing the EPA to protect the money they get from energy companies, but it is also possible that they are pushing the EPA to appear more green so can can look green themselves. Or most likely both things are going on at the same time.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13

Originally posted by: umbrella39

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday by an advocacy group.

The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work.

EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar attributed some of the discontent to the "passion" scientists have toward their work. He said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, as a longtime career scientist at the EPA himself, "weighs heavily the science given to him by the staff in making policy decisions."

But Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program, said the survey results revealed "an agency in crisis" and "under siege from political pressures" especially among scientists involved in risk assessment and crafting regulations.

"The investigation shows researchers are generally continuing to do their work, but their scientific findings are tossed aside when it comes time to write regulations," said Grifo.

Full Article

When corporations and the politicians in their back pockets have the ability to alter scientific findings and reports, we are all in deep shit. If politicians want to lie, fine I expect that of them, but we can't trust the EPA any longer? Or could we ever? I fear we have past the point of getting all the facts any longer to make informed decisions. We get watered down findings and policy crafted by corporate pressure. It seems pretty clear that one side of the argument is trying to hide something.

The article does not mention sides. It just says political interference. This could mean that this interference can go both ways. Environmental Protection is a business. People are in fact getting lots of money from the facade of protecting the earth. Theres no reason not to believe they are paying people to say that GW is the worst thing that has happened for the past 300 million years

..they'll do anything they have to, to get the Carbon-Con revenue machine going. I'll bet they've already spent the first few years of punitive tax and co2 ransom rackets revenue.

 

[fskimospy]

You guys really think that political appointees placed by one of the least environmentally friendly administrations in history are secretly pressuring people to be more environmentally friendly? Puhlease.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: tenshodo13

Originally posted by: umbrella39

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday by an advocacy group.

The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work.

EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar attributed some of the discontent to the "passion" scientists have toward their work. He said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, as a longtime career scientist at the EPA himself, "weighs heavily the science given to him by the staff in making policy decisions."

But Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program, said the survey results revealed "an agency in crisis" and "under siege from political pressures" especially among scientists involved in risk assessment and crafting regulations.

"The investigation shows researchers are generally continuing to do their work, but their scientific findings are tossed aside when it comes time to write regulations," said Grifo.

Full Article

When corporations and the politicians in their back pockets have the ability to alter scientific findings and reports, we are all in deep shit. If politicians want to lie, fine I expect that of them, but we can't trust the EPA any longer? Or could we ever? I fear we have past the point of getting all the facts any longer to make informed decisions. We get watered down findings and policy crafted by corporate pressure. It seems pretty clear that one side of the argument is trying to hide something.

The article does not mention sides. It just says political interference. This could mean that this interference can go both ways. Environmental Protection is a business. People are in fact getting lots of money from the facade of protecting the earth. Theres no reason not to believe they are paying people to say that GW is the worst thing that has happened for the past 300 million years

..they'll do anything they have to, to get the Carbon-Con revenue machine going. I'll bet they've already spent the first few years of punitive tax and co2 ransom rackets revenue.

........



George Bush



......



Appointed.......

...... positions......