Chairwoman Johnson Urges EPA Administrator Wheeler to Reinstate CASAC Review Panel
(Washington, DC) – Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging him to reinstate the Particulate Matter (PM) review panel of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). Last October, Administrator Wheeler disbanded the Particulate Matter panel, which included two dozen researchers across relevant scientific disciplines assembled to inform air pollution standards. Instead, CASAC itself – a seven-member panel lacking the appropriate depth of expertise – was tasked with reviewing the relevant science. CASAC has since informed Administrator Wheeler that it is ill equipped to provide the advice necessary to set science-based PM standards.
“CASAC officially confirmed its inability to provide a comprehensive expert review of the PM National Ambient Air Quality Standards documents,” Chairwoman Johnson said in the letter. “With this in mind, it would be inappropriate for EPA to accept CASAC’s review of the draft [Integrated Science Assessment] on particulate matter. EPA must ensure it is working to protect human health and the environment using the best available science, and I am glad that CASAC has the integrity to inform you when they are unable to meet that standard.”
A copy of the full letter can be found here.
Next Article Previous Article