Letter to the Honorable Scott Pruitt, Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Van Hollen, Twenty Senators Urge Extension of Comment Period on Pruitt Rule to Favor Industry-Backed Science

Letter

Dear Administrator Pruitt:

We write to respectfully request the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extend the comment deadline to July 30, 2018 on the proposed rule "Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science," docket number EPA-HQ-OA-2018-0259, and hold one or more public hearings.

This proposed rule is expected to have a significant effect on the types and number of scientific studies EPA considers during rulemaking. The rule also implicates patient privacy. With these concerns in mind, many public health groups, including the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Public Health Association, have similarly requested an extension of the comment deadline and public hearings.

EPA would be well served by giving stakeholders adequate time to draft and submit thorough, well-reasoned comments and by conducting at least one hearing to hear public feedback. Doing so will help ensure that EPA receives the highest quality comments from the broadest array of stakeholders.