Stop Pruitt's quest to help industrial polluters

Scott Pruitt's got a polluting problem. Ever since he became head of the EPA, he's only cared about helping out polluting industries, not our families' health. And now he's using a strategy right out of the tobacco industry's playbook.

In May, Pruitt's EPA proposed a new rule to limit the use of scientific studies to those where the underlying data is publicly available. While it might sound good in passing, it's not. It's the same tactic Big Tobacco used to try and prove cigarettes weren't bad for you. The rule would disregard long-standing landmark public health studies linking air pollution and pesticide exposure to harmful health impacts. Because the studies rely on medical and health data, they are confidential to protect patient privacy. 

But Pruitt wants to disregard these studies to give polluters a free pass and cause thousands of people to suffer.

It's another thinly veiled attack from the Trump administration on peer-reviewed, rigorous science and it will harm the health of our communities. It's outrageous and we must stop it.

We have less than 30 days to officially voice our opposition. Add your name to support science-based policy making and tell the EPA to abandon this proposed rule to pollute science.

This announcement has long been on polluters' wishlists. Medical science has repeatedly proven that smog, particulate matter, and heavy metals -- all hallmarks of the fossil fuel and chemical industries -- can cause death and severe health complications. But with this proposed rule, many of these studies linking pollution and toxic substances harming our health will be disregarded.

Just like we know cigarettes are dangerous, we also know that pollution and climate disruption pose a threat to our families. But Pruitt wants to try Big Tobacco's tricks to hide the truth. A group of nearly 1,000 scientists have already spoken out against this. Now you can join them.

Tell Scott Pruitt: We see right through your transparent attack on science. Protect our communities’ health and voice your opposition to this rule. Please add a personal comment to explain how this affects you.

On top of Pruitt's dozens of scandals that have come to light -- from unlawful and wasteful spending of taxpayer funds to unethical behavior -- now he pulls out this attempt to dismantle key public health safeguards? It's just one more reason why Pruitt has got to go. Take action today, and help us stop Pruitt from continuing his path of destruction.

Liz Perera is the Sierra Club's Climate Policy Director.