Say it again: Science, Not Silence
Environmental Protection Agency
We'll get right to the point. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to censor the science it uses in its decisions, limiting what studies are considered in decision making, and removing scientists from pivotal policy conversations. These actions will have dire consequences on our health and environment. We cannot ignore peer-reviewed studies that rely on confidential information - doing so eliminates some of the best research we have to inform policy. Our water, air, and health are all jeopardized by this censorship. Learn more here
The EPA is accepting comments until August 16. To submit comments directly to the EPA individually, visit https://p2a.co/JFdbCil. The below petition will be delivered with signatures prior to the deadline.
We are partnering with the American Lung Association to make sure EPA hears from people who support science. Please add your name to this petition below, and we will submit it to EPA by the comment deadline.
From the American Lung Association:
The scientific research that EPA uses is already transparent and peer-reviewed. But EPA's proposal targets health studies that rely on confidential patient information. To protect patient confidentiality, that underlying data must be kept private. Under the misleading veil of "transparency," this proposal would allow EPA to throw out important landmark studies that rely on confidential patient information.
The likely result: weak limits on air pollution that fail to reflect the science and fail to protect health.
Note: Signatures on this petition will be delivered with signatures collected by other organizations as part of a mass mobilization to address this concern. Your contact information will not be shared outside of the March for Science organization and our campaign partner, American Lung Association.
Comments left on this petition may be used to promote MFS campaigns (identified as first name, last initial, state).
Sponsored by
To:
Environmental Protection Agency
From:
[Your Name]
I call on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to withdraw this proposal to censor science. EPA already relies on transparent science to make its decisions. The proposal will not improve this process. Instead, it would allow the agency to censor critical studies that show the relationship between our health and the environment. We cannot limit the information used to protect our health and environment.
The effects of air pollution and other environmental risks are documented by research that has already undergone a long-established, transparent review process. Many of these studies contain confidential patient information that can’t and shouldn’t be made public. This is no reason to exclude those studies’ critically important, well-vetted findings. I am deeply concerned that EPA’s proposal would allow the agency to censor these important health studies.
Our communities depend on the EPA to use the best available scientific evidence in making policy decisions. We deserve clean air and water and ask that you adhere to the EPA mandate to protect our health and environment. The EPA must rely on the best available science to protect our future - this censorship makes that impossible.
Please withdraw this proposal.