Dec 19, 2002 -- U.S. Chamber Raises Questions About EPA Scientific Models

EPA Reveals Many Models Never Validated

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce today questioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about its use of scientific models, after an agency representative revealed that EPA has never validated a significant portion of its models.

"We're deeply concerned at the suggestion that the models the agency uses have never been tested for accuracy," said Bill Kovacs, Chamber vice president of environmental policy. "This means that the federal government, states, and the business community may have been spending unnecessary capital to comply with invalid models."

At the October meeting of the EPA Science Advisory Board Executive Committee, Chairman Dr. William Glaze stated that an unnamed high-ranking EPA official informed him that a significant fraction, if not most, of the models used by the agency have never been validated. According to the Chamber, models are the critical basis to many regulations because they are the mathematical tools used to predict future results. When models are inaccurate, regulations cannot be effective.

Dr. Glaze's remarks about the validity of models were not included in the minutes issued by the Science Advisory Board following the meeting. The Chamber informally requested that they be amended to include the missing information, but so far, the EPA has not done so. Today, in a letter to the EPA, the Chamber petitioned the agency to amend the meeting minutes under the Data Quality Act. The act, which requires agencies to ensure and maximize "the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of" disseminated information.

"We are asking EPA to provide a full, clear, and objective presentation of what was said at the meeting as a starting point to explore the integrity of the scientific models it uses," concluded Kovacs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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