Contacts:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

David Lungren David_Lungren@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-5642

EPA CHOOSES TO CLOSE OFF OPEN SCIENTIFIC DEBATE

Agency's Action ‘Harms its Reputation and Legal Standing in Court'

Washington, DC-Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement today in response to EPA's denial of several petitions to reconsider the agency's endangerment finding for greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, which was finalized earlier this year.

"EPA could have chosen to have an open, transparent process to look at the implications of Climategate and hear scientists of all persuasions debate key scientific issues in an open forum," Sen. Inhofe said.  "Open and fulsome debate only strengthens the foundations of scientific knowledge.  But EPA chose instead to dismiss legitimate concerns about data quality, transparency, and billions of dollars of taxpayer-funded science as products of ‘conspiracies.'  Rather, such ad hominem attacks are products of closed-mindedness and ultimately harm EPA's reputation and legal standing in court."

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