Tag: GOP war on science

Federal court blocks Trump EPA on air pollution

The following article by Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson was posted on the Washington Post website July 3, 2017:

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

An appeals court Monday struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s 90-day suspension of new emission standards on oil and gas wells, a decision that could set back the Trump administration’s broad legal strategy for rolling back Obama-era rules.

In a 2-to-1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that the EPA had the right to reconsider a 2016 rule limiting methane and smog-forming pollutants emitted by oil and gas wells but could not delay the effective date while it sought to rewrite the regulation.

The agency has proposed extending the initial delay to two years; the court will hold a hearing on that suspension separately. Continue reading “Federal court blocks Trump EPA on air pollution”

America must repair its scientific infrastructure

The following commentary by Olle Heinonen was posted on the Minneapolis StarTribune website July 3, 2017:

This is especially important in Minnesota, with its background of innovation.

Source: Morguefile.com

President Donald Trump’s $1 trillion plan to repair the nation’s dilapidated roads, antiquated bridges and shabby railways through an infrastructure overhaul is a worthy goal. But to fully boost the economy, strengthen our competitiveness and increase job growth, Trump’s plan should include our nation’s scientific infrastructure. I urge U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District — who is in a position of influence on this because of his service on the Joint Economic Committee — to take the necessary steps to ensure that the president includes science in his infrastructure plan.

Americans rely on our country’s scientific infrastructure — national labs, university research facilities and cutting-edge instrumentation — for the breakthroughs and discoveries that improve our lives, fuel our economy and help protect our country. Continue reading “America must repair its scientific infrastructure”