Washington, D.C. –Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement in response to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy’s decision to stand by the agency’s use of secret science to justify costly regulations.

Chairman Smith: “It’s disappointing that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy continues to try to justify her agency’s use of secret science. Relying on undisclosed data is not good science and not good policy. Ms. McCarthy admitted that the EPA has never even seen much of the underlying data it uses to justify new multi-million dollar air regulations. She also admitted that the limited data provided to Congress is not sufficient to replicate the studies, which means it cannot be independently evaluated.  Any sensitive information can be protected.

“But the American taxpayers who funded these studies have a right to see the information and determine for themselves whether the EPA is basing its regulations on sound science. In the coming weeks the Science Committee will consider the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 (H.R. 4012) to prohibit the EPA from proposing regulations based upon data that has not been publicly disclosed.”