U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) unveiling the agency's new rule-making guideline. The Office of the Science Advisor released a new data quality guide, which was first reported by Inside EPA, that agency staff must consider for future rule-making, which does not retroactively affect any greenhouse gas regulations that have already been implemented.

"Where was this three years ago? EPA's ‘too little too late' approach is a fake attempt at reviving sound science," said Vitter. "Publishing data quality guidelines after regulations are already in place does nothing for our economy, which is already damaged by the EPA's overzealous regulations. This is just an ex post facto apology, but won't change the regulatory burden - and while China, India, and Russia's economies aren't similarly shackled, I'm afraid it will become increasingly difficult for businesses to justify locating new facilities in the United States, leaving them to look overseas."

In 2011, EPA Inspector General released a report criticizing the agency's review of external data for its greenhouse gas endangerment finding. Following the IG's recommendation to update EPA's 2003 guidance "A Summary of General Assessment Factors for Evaluating the Quality of Scientific and Technical Information," the office published an addendum last December that includes higher standards for assessing and accepting data from other organizations.

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