It has happen in the past that the EPA (and others) based a science public policy decision on junk science and no one was able to see the figures because the contractor who did the science work, Harvard, refused to release the information.

Congress passed a bill that required the Office of Management and Budget to amend the Freedom of Information Act to include recipients of federal grants. If information used to guide public policy can't be checked for accuracy, junk science not only will flourish but be encouraged to serve agendas.

Help us fight to make information available that government uses to guide public policy. Information on the environment and smoking are the chief targets for junk science. Make sure that all information, no matter what the source, is available to anyone who would like to check it for integrity.

The Office of Management and Budget is excepting public comments on this matter (revisions to Circular A-110) until April 5, 1999.

Comments should be addressed to:

Those who wish to promote junk science will lobby hard to get this killed.

Please write and let them know you want this change implemented. If you would like to read more the link is:

Dave Pickrell - SFD