For many, many years the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has relied on its Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) to review and advise EPA’s internal research departments on their scientific methodology. There were thirty-eight members of BOSC when Trump was sworn in. Soon, there will be eleven. They will be replaced with more scientists from regulated industries. Since the new administration seems to take a very long time filling positions, the BOSC will likely be unable to function for quite a while.
The former BOSC Chairperson Deb Swackhamer notes "Science is the bedrock of EPA policy, and external independent advice by BOSC to guide and continually improve the research at EPA is critical to its mission. I am concerned that this will also impact the competitiveness of EPA science and the high regard it has in the world."
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