House passes bill to overhaul EPA Scientific Advisory Board

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The Hill:

The House passed legislation on Tuesday to modify the selection process for members of the Environmental Protection Agency's Scientific Advisory Board.

 

Passage fell largely along party lines by a vote of 236-181.

 

The bill would prohibit the board, which advises the EPA on its regulations, from appointing members who are registered lobbyists. It would also require that at least 10 percent of board members be from state, local or tribal governments.

Republicans argued that the bill would increase transparency at the EPA.

"We live in an extremely cynical time," said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the measure's sponsor. "This is a bill that tries to move us in the direction of not only better regulations when we must have regulations, but better science to justify those regulations and the confidence of all of our fellow citizens."

 

But Democrats said the legislation would create unnecessary burdens and limit the number of environmental experts serving on the board by establishing a quota for people representing regional governments.