Tobacco Documents Online

' Comm of tijr Wnittb iitattic *oude of Aqrzantatibco Wasbington, *C 20515 August 2, 1994 BRIEFING ON SOUND SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Dear Colieague: You are cordially invited to a briefing on a new research report by the Alexis da Tocqueville Institution entitled~ "Science, Economics and Environmental Policy: A Critical Examination" on August 11, in room 210S of Rayburn House Office Building from 1000 to*11:00 a.m. Members, staff, and the press are invited to attend. . The purpose of anvironmental regulation is to reduce possible dangers to our health and well-being and to protect our natural resources. We are now spending close to $150 billion a year-- $1,500 per housohold-- to comply with environmental regulations which, in turn, reduces the standard-of-living and economic growth. in our view, a responsible environmental polic should be based on scientifically sound assessments of potent~al health and ecological risks, and should avoid unnecessary burdens on the economy. As you may know, we have supported several provisions requiring vigorous risk assessments ancd cost-benefit teats for all environmental regulations. Even E.P.A. Administrator Carol Browner has admitted, "A11 too. often, we've seen too little environmental protection at too high a price." Unfortunately, there have been many cases in recent years where sound science and economics have been sacrificed by the EPA in order to support preconceived public policies and political decisionst. The de Tocqueville report evaluates the scientific principles used by the EPA to justify its policy decisions in four of the most current-- and controvereial-- environmental queetions: environmental tobacco smoke, radon, pesticides, and - hazardous waste ciean-up under the Superfund law. The briefing will be conducted by Dr. S. Fred 8inger, professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia, and Mr. Kent Jeffreye, both of whom are senior fellows with the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution. For more information, please contact KC McKee (5-5071), Sharon Pinkerton (5-4035) or Ceear Conda of the Alexis de Toccqtieville -X4atitution at (703) 351-4969. Pete Geren Member of Congress