EPA, OSHA Flunk Science Openness Rating from UCS

Press offices at EPA, OSHA, and other agencies often censor scientists studying how industries harm the health of American citizens, a scientists' group announced October 17, 2008. The Union of Concerned Scientists rated media policies at 15 different federal agencies — most covered by environmental reporters.

Keeping the public ignorant of health threats posed by industries, critics argue, has helped limit or roll back regulations that could protect the health of workers and neighbors at various plants. While such censorship has existed in other administrations, the UCS said it has gotten much worse in the Bush administration. Industries such as coal, oil, utilities, and chemicals have contributed heavily to President Bush's campaigns.

UCS submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the media policies of the agencies. They evaluated both the written policies (when they existed) and the agencies' performance in practice. The U.S. EPA has one of the most restrictive press policies of all federal agencies — but has carefully avoided writing down any top-down directives from headquarters.

Following is the UCS "Report Card" rating the agencies:

The agencies with the best media openness, according to UCS, were NASA, NIST, and NOAA. The agencies with the worst openness were EPA, CPSC, FWS, and OSHA.

UCS urged the next administration to adopt policies and practices that would:

• Acknowledge the agency scientists' right to express personal views, along with the disclaimer that they are speaking as private citizens
• Give scientists the right to review, approve, and comment publicly on the final version of any document or publication that significantly relies on their research.
• "Freedom to Speak? A Report Card on Federal Agency Media Policies," Union of Concerned Scientists, October 17, 2008.
• Agency press policies.
• "Agencies Rated on Scientific Candor," Washington Post, October 17, 2008, by Marc Kaufman.
• Previous Stories: WatchDogs of February 23, 2006; May 7, 2008; July 30, 2008, Part 1 and Part 2; September 24, 2008; and October 4, 2008.