EPA Censors Program/Speakers at Pesticide Conference
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EPA Censors Program/Speakers at Pesticide Conference
Date:
Fri, 27 Dec 2002 08:10:50 -0500
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an e-mail I just received:
Congressman Henry Waxman wrote to the EPA chief on Dec. 20 about "another disturbing example" of the Administration's political tampering with the nation's scientific infrastructure for dealing with toxic substances. Previous examples that have surfaced since July concerned appointments to government scientific advisory committees.
"(A)fter a request by the pesticide industry, EPA has apparently intervened to stop three of the nation's leading experts on the effects of pesticides on children -- including [Dr. Richard Jackson] the senior environmental health official at the Centers for Disease Control -- from speaking at an EPA-funded educational conference for health care professionals." The other 2 scientists disinvited by EPA were Dr. Philip Landrigan, who served as Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on pesticides and children, and Dr. Lynn Goldman, former head of the office of pesticides at EPA.
The EPA conference has now been put off until next June, and Cong. Waxman is trying to get these 3 highly qualified, centrist scientists re-invited by EPA. Waxman criticized EPA pesticide chief Stephen Johnson for kow-towing to pesticide industry lobbyists who had complained about the inclusion of these three bomb-throwers in the conference program, leading EPA to postpone and "restructure" the conference.
The White House has not yet announced when perennial pesticide lobbyist Jay Vroom will replace Christie Whitman as Administrator of the EPA.
Seriously, this has gone too far. Not only should EPA restore the places of these respected moderate scientists in the program, but EPA should also invite a scientist or two from the environmental groups and academia who are knowledgeable about and could critically address what might be politely entitled, "shortcomings in existing programs for controlling pesticide hazards".
For entire Waxman letter, see:
www.house.gov/reform/min -- and click Dec. 20 letter on left ("pesticide
industry attempts...")
--
Barry I. Castleman, ScD
bcastle@bcpl.net
410-448-2648
2412 Pickwick Rd
Baltimore MD 21207 USA
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