Science is essential because the American environmental protection agency performs its mission to protect human health and the environment.
Actually, Laws adopted by Congress require that EPA uses “best available sciences” In many decisions On regulations, permits, cleaning contaminated sites and the response to emergencies.
For example, the Clean Air Act Requires that EPA is based on science to establish emission standards and health quality standards based on health. THE Drinking water deed Requires EPA to envisage the best science with reading committee available when establishing health -based standards. THE Clean Water Act Requires that the agency develop quality surface water criteria that reflect the latest sciences. THE Toxic substances control law Requires that EPA uses the best available sciences to assess the risk of chemicals with human health and the environment.
But what exactly does the “best sciences available” mean?
This is an important question because the Trump administration launches a effort to make the return Air and water regulations at the same time prepare to Replace all the members of two consulting councils in the Crucial EPA And considering Elimination of the Research and Development Office – The scientific research arm of the EPA.
What is the best science available?
Certain basic definitions of the best available sciences can be found in laws, court decisions and other sources, including EPA own policies.
Science must be reliable, impartial,, objective and neutral valueThis means that it is not influenced by personal opinions. The best science available is the result of Scientific process and hypothesis tests by scientists. And it is based on current knowledge of relevant technical expertise and must be credible.
EPAs Scientific integrity policy Understands “the processes and practices to ensure that the best science available is presented to the agency’s decision -makers and informs the work of the agency”. These include processes to ensure data quality And information quality and procedures for Independent journals by scientific experts Apart from the government.
AP photo / Matt Rourke
I personally saw the importance of these processes and procedures. In addition to being a university researcher Who works on air pollution, I am a former member of the EPA Scientific advisory adviceFormer President of EPA Clean air scientific advisory committeeand from 2022 to 2024 served as assistant administrator the EPA research and development office and EPA scientific advisor.
Consultative and internal research boards
THE EPA scientific advisory advice plays an important role in ensuring that EPA uses the best available science. He is responsible for Examine the scientific and technological basis of EPA actions.
THE 1978 Law on the Research, Development and Authorization of Environmental Demonstration ordered the EPA to establish the board of directors. The members of the Advisory Council of Sciences must be “qualified by education, training and experience Evaluate scientific and technical information on issues referred to the council. But these members can be replaced by new administrations, because Trump administration is planning do now.
During the first Trump administration, the EPA replaced several independent scientists on its advisory advice in a way that has deviated from the established practice, according to the Government officeand brought Scientists related to EPA industries regulate. I was one of the independent replaced scientists, and I and others Launched an independent examination committee To continue providing expert advice.
No matter who sits on the advice advice of EPA, the agency is held by law to follow the best available sciences. The failure to do so opens the way for prosecution.
The same law which established the scientific advisory committee is also a legal basis for the Research and development officethe agency’s scientific research arm and the main source of the EPA for Gather and develop the best sciences available For decision -makers.
During my stay at EPA, the work of the Research and Development Office informed regulatory decisions involving air,, water,, land And chemicals. He informed application actionsas well as cleaning And emergency response efforts in the EPA regions.
State agencies And tribal country Also consult the EPA for expertise on the best sciences available, as they generally do not have resources to develop this science themselves.
Federal courts say using the best available science
Federal courts also ordered EPA to use the best available sciences, and they recognized the importance of journals from external experts.
In 2024, for example, the American Court of Appeal for the Columbia district circuit rejected an industry petition to examine an EPA standard involving ethylene oxide, a pollutant emitted by certain chemical and industrial installations that have been associated with several types of cancer.
The court granted a “degree of extreme deference“The EPA evaluation of scientific data in its field of expertise. The court has listed the key elements of the best available science of EPA, in particular” an extensive process of eighteen years which began in 1998, involved cycles of public comments and peers exam by the EPA Science Advisory Board (“ Sab ”), and concluded in 2016 when the EPA published a complete report on the subject. »»
The Columbia district circuit in 2013 also affirmed the central role of science to clarify the revisions of National ambient air quality standardswhich set limits for six common air pollutants.
In this case, Mississippi c. EPAThe court noted that the EPA had to receive advice from its Clean air scientific advisory committeeor Casac. The court said that, although the agency can deviate from the committee’s scientific councils, “EPA must be precise to describe the basis of its disagreement with Casac”.
The Trump administration in 2025 rejected All members of Casac and said that he planned to replace them.
What does it mean?
Obligning the agency to use the best available sciences guarantee that decisions are based on evidence and that reasoning behind them is the result of well accepted scientific processes and exempt from bias, including stakeholder Or policy interference.
The scientific challenges that EPA face Increase in complexity. Responding to them effectively for population and environmental health require robust scientific expertise and scientific processes.