āA decision has been made to reset the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and reestablish its current membership,” then-acting administrator James Payne said in a Tuesday evening emailĀ that was obtained by The Hill on Thursday. (The Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin to be EPA administrator on Wednesday.)
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Ā “This action emphasizes the importance of SAB and CASAC to EPAās mission of protecting human health and the environment,ā Payne added.
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He said that the EPA would “update” the advisory committees to make sure that the agency “receives scientific advice consistent with its legal obligations to advance our core mission.”
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He added that a request for nominations to the two science committees would be announced in the weeks ahead.Ā
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Asked about the email, an EPA spokesperson similarly described it as a “reset.”
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The spokesperson accused the Biden administration of “politicization” of the advisory boards and said the move was being made to reverse it.
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During President Trumpās first term, his first EPA administrator,Ā Scott Pruitt,Ā dismissed 12 SAB members in 2017.
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His successor,Ā Andrew Wheeler, appointed eight replacement members the following year.
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President Bidenās EPA chief,Ā Michael Regan, dismissed several Trump appointees to the boards.Ā
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Read more at TheHill.com.
