EPA gets earful on cost-benefit plan

摘要

Dozens of public interest groups yesterday asked acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to withdraw a proposed shake-up of the agency's rulemaking process.rnAt issue is an advance notice of proposed rulemaking titled "Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Costs and Benefits in the Rulemaking Process." In a flurry of letters, the groups said the proposal signaled a retreat from valuing gains from rules.rnLike the so-called "secret science" plan, this proposal could have profound consequences for EPA's overall approach to assessing the need for new or stiffer standards to protect public health and the environment (Greenwire. May 16).rnWhile the science proposal would restrict the types of studies EPA can use in crafting new regulations, the cost-benefit move would affect reviews that provide the economic justification for rules. Reform could have profound implications for air quality guidelines (Greenwire. June 22).