Attorney General Stein Calls Out Trump EPA For Censoring Scientific Data

North Carolina's Attorney General has joined a coalition accusing the Trump Administration of “censoring science.”  

Attorney General Josh Stein is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw what he calls a “harmful and deeply flawed” proposal that would ban certain scientific studies from being used in the agency's decision-making process.

Stein, a Democrat, joined a 23-member coalition of states, counties and cities in a letter sent to acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.

The original proposal was submitted by former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The rule would exclude any scientific study whose underlying data isn't entirely available to the public, even if it's peer-reviewed.

Stein says in a statement, “Prioritizing strong science should be a no-brainer for the EPA."  Stein goes on to say, “This rule is silly, but its impact could be serious.”

The 33-page letter sent to Wheeler threatens a possible lawsuit if the proposal becomes a mandate.