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H.R. 4012 (113th): Secret Science Reform Act of 2014


The text of the bill below is as of Nov 20, 2014 (Referred to Senate Committee). The bill was not enacted into law.


IIB

113th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4012

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 20, 2014

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

AN ACT

To prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014.

2.

Data transparency

Section 6(b) of the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 4363 note) is amended to read as follows:

(b)
(1)

The Administrator shall not propose, finalize, or disseminate a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such covered action is—

(A)

specifically identified; and

(B)

publicly available online in a manner that is sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results.

(2)

Nothing in the subsection shall be construed as requiring the public dissemination of information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law.

(3)

In this subsection—

(A)

the term covered action means a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance; and

(B)

the term scientific and technical information includes—

(i)

materials, data, and associated protocols necessary to understand, assess, and extend conclusions;

(ii)

computer codes and models involved in the creation and analysis of such information;

(iii)

recorded factual materials; and

(iv)

detailed descriptions of how to access and use such information.

.

Passed the House of Representatives November 19, 2014.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk