EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy Update: Listening to All Sides for Integrity and Accountability in Regulation

The EPA is currently working on updating its scientific integrity policy, and industry groups are urging the agency to take their perspectives into account. These guidelines are essential in ensuring that the agency’s research is conducted with integrity and that its scientists are not subject to political interference. With President Biden’s commitment to protecting the agency’s research, the finalization of these guidelines is expected later this year.

Francesca Grifo, the EPA’s scientific integrity official, has emphasized the importance of hearing from all sides when making decisions as a regulatory agency. In an interview with E&E News, Grifo stated that she was not surprised by the influx of comments from various sectors regarding the policy update. She acknowledged that the impact of this policy could be far-reaching for the regulated community and that it was crucial to carefully consider input from industry groups and other stakeholders as they finalize the scientific integrity policy.

Grifo’s comments underscore the EPA’s commitment to ensuring that its decisions have significant repercussions and that they are made with careful consideration of all perspectives. As a regulatory agency, it is crucial to hear from all sides and take their input into account when making decisions that will affect them directly.