Science at EPA Information in the Regulatory Process

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created to protect public health and the environment. EPA has traditionally emphasized its regulatory mission over its scientific mission, yet for environmental policy to be credible with the public and policymakers, it must be perceived to have a sound basis in science. Science at EPA is a frank, provocative evaluation of the agency's acquisition and use of science in regulatory decision-making. It analyzes the institutions, players, politics, and challenges involved in this crucial but problematic endeavor.

Controversy surrounds many EPA regulations. Critics, from corners as different as Science magazine and Rush Limbaugh, contend that increasing costs outweigh diminishing benefits. In this volume, Mark Powell provides the most comprehensive examination available on the acquisition and use of science in environmental regulation. How is the science designed and executed? What steps does EPA take to ensure that useful science is available when regulatory decisions arise? And how is science communicated and used in rulemaking? Powell describes the key obstacles to the practical, efficient, and effective acquisition and application of science. They include large scientific uncertainties, increasing workloads, time constraints, short-term political demands, and EPA's staff patterns and legalistic culture.

Powell discusses the wide-ranging sources of EPA's scientific information. He reveals the structure and roles of bodies such as the Science Advisory Board and EPA's Office of Research and Development. He includes detailed case studies that trace and evaluate the use of science in eight EPA decisions, involving each of the majorstatutory programs. Drawing on extensive research and personal interviews with many of the people involved, Powell maps the origins, flow, and impact of scientific information in these decisions.

Powell's description of the environment-and-science regime examines a critically import

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created to protect public health and the environment, and it has traditionally emphasized its regulatory mission over its scientific mission. Yet for environmental policy to be credible with the public and policymakers, EPA's actions must have a sound basis in science. In Science at EPA, Mark Powell offers detailed case studies that map the origins, flow, and impact of scientific information in eight EPA decisions involving the agency's major statutory programs. Drawing on extensive research and interviews, he provides the most comprehensive examination available on the acquisition and use of science in environmental regulation. Powell describes the key obstacles to the practical, efficient, and effective acquisition and use of knowledge in what is a crucial, but complex endeavor. His book is an essential contribution for practitioners, scholars and students, and citizens who are determined to protect our environment rationally and effectively.

Foreword J. Clarence Davies Preface Mark R. Powell Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Acquisition and Use of Science at EPA Chapter 3 Science inside EPA: Office of Research and Development Chapter 4 Science inside EPA: The Regulatory Programs Chapter 5 An Evaluation Chapter 6 Policy Proposals Appendix A The 1991 Lead/Copper Drinking Water Rule Appendix B The 1995 Decision Not to Revise the Arsenic in Drinking Water Rule Appendix C The 1987 Revision of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Particulate Matter Appendix D The 1993 Decision Not To Revise the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone Appendix E The 1983 1984 Suspensions of Ethylene Dibromide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Appendix F The 1989 Asbestos Ban and Phaseout Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act Appendix G Control of Dioxins and Other Organochlorines from the Pulp and Paper Industry under the Clean Water Act Appendix H Lead in Soil at Superfund Mining Sites Appendix I List of Interviewees and Commenters Appendix J Science at EPA Interview Guides Appendix K List of Acronyms Index

Mark R. Powell, currently with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a former researcher with the Center for Risk management at Resources for the Future.