This week, during a speech at the Heritage Foundation, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt expressed his concerns with the “independence and the veracity and the transparency” of scientists who, have received EPA funded grants, from serving on EPA external advisory boards.  Administrator Pruitt further noted that some advisory panel members have received “millions of dollars” in EPA grant funding, implying receipt of such grant funding reduced their suitability to serve on EPA advisory panels.

Current EPA policy prevents scientists who have an active EPA grant from serving on EPA advisory panels, but does not preclude those with a history of EPA grants from serving.

Administrator Pruitt announced that next week he will issue a directive that will change current policy on who is eligible to serve on EPA advisory panels.  While details of the pending policy are unknown, it is expected that the directive will restrict the ability of EPA funded scientist to serve on EPA panels and may relax rules on industry representatives serving.