"Science: EPA Advisers Got Oil Funding For Studies Against Car Rule"

"At least two members appointed by Scott Pruitt to the EPA Science Advisory Board received industry funding for research that's bolstering agency efforts to roll back greenhouse gas rules for cars.

The work of a third adviser selected by the EPA administrator asserts that the health benefits from reducing smog "may not occur." That study is also cited as evidence against fuel efficiency rules, but it's unclear who funded it.

The research is being used by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to cast doubt on a large body of science establishing a link between air pollution and serious health effects like asthma and heart disease. EPA has given weight to the alliance's justifications for softening the rules, meant to make cars go 54 mpg in model years 2022-25. (Real world estimates put that figure at 36 mpg.)"

Scott Waldman reports for ClimateWire April 11, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"NGO Scientists May Reject Appointment to US EPA Chemical Advisory Panel" (Chemical Watch)

"The EPA Ousted Science Advisers. Now It’S Going After The Science Itself." (Vox)

"Democrats Ask Interior To Investigate Climate Change Edits" (Reveal)

"The War on Science Is Over. The Republicans Won." (New Republic)

"Scientific Group Sues EPA Over Advisory Boards" (Boston Globe)