WASHINGTON, DC . . .  This week, the House passed three bills designed to increase transparency and fairness at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04) is an original cosponsor of all three measures.

         TheEPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, H.R. 1422, which passed the House 229-191, reforms the procedures for selecting members of the Science Advisory Board.  The bill reinforces public participation, public comment opportunities, and peer review requirements.  It diminishes conflicts of interest by providing dissenting panelists opportunities to voice their concerns – and limiting non-scientific policy advice and recommendations.  The bill is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Gas Association, and American Chemistry Council, among others.

         The House also approved the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014, H.R. 4012, by a vote of 237-190.  This bill increases transparency of the studies used by the EPA to create new regulations by allowing independent scientists an opportunity to review, reproduce, and validate these studies and by providing public access to the data and information contained in these studies.  The measure has significant support from the scientific and business communities, including a large number of scientists, academic experts, former EPA officials, and several national trade associations.

         The third bill, H.R. 4795Promoting New Manufacturing Act, passed the House by a vote of 238-172.  The Act requires the EPA to make public, via its website, the total number of permits issued annually for the purpose of construction or modification of pollutant emitting facilities or sources, the percentage of permits issued within twelve months of application, and the average processing time to decide appeals of denied permits.

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