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THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL FRID: E.P.A. Research Lags, Report Finds By WARREN E. LEARY Special to The New York Times WASHINGTON. March 19 = Re- search conducted by the Environmen- tal Protection Agency suffers from un- even quality, inadequate funds, poor direction and a lack of first-rate scien- tists and equipment, a report made public today says. The report, discussed at a hearing of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, said the envi- ronmentai agency neither conducts en- vironmental research as well as it could nor uses science effectively in considering and writing regulations. Critics charge that many of the agen- cy's policies are driven by response to a crisis rather than by research. Wil- liam K. Reilly, the Administrator of the E.P.A., says that is not the way it should be. Concerned about the poor reputation ot its science, Mr. Reilly appointed a special advisory committee of promi- nent scientists last year to assess the work of the E.P.A.'s Office of Research and Development and the agency's overall use of technical information. 'Uneven Quality' Found "The panel affirms that the E.P.A. needs its own strong science base to provide the background required for effective environmental protection programs," the committee said. "Cur- rently, E.P.A. science is of uneven qual- ity. and the agency's policies and regu- lations are frequently perceived as lacking a strong scientific foundation." The committee recommended that the agency take steps to improve mat- ters, including bringing in promiment scientists and appointing a high-rank- ing science adviser for the agency. Mr. Reilly, testifying at the hearing, praised the report and said he would begin immediately to carry out many of its suggestions. He promised to ap- point science advisers at different lev- els in the agency, have himself regular- ly briefed on technical issues, and cre- ate and publish an annual research agenda that establishes priorities. "Somettmes our decisions are based on partial information, and we need to he clearer about our sources of data and the quality of the data," Mr. Reilly said in an interview. "The time has come when science should be what we do and what we are seen to do. We are nnt eco-cowboys and we don't want to he seen that wav." Representative George E. Brown Jr., who is chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, noted that I the E.P.A. conducted little basic re- search on fundamental environmental processes and health effects. The agen- cy has to do more than short-term applied research if it wants to reduce scientific uncertainties that hamper ef- forts to create thoughtful, cost-effec- tive regulations, he said. Mr. Brown, a California Democrat, praised Mr. Reilly's quick response to the science study and said he would try to get more money for environmental research. An analysis by the commit- tee found that even though the environ- mental agency's research and develop- ment budget had been rising modestly in recent years, it still had not recov- ered from deep cuts that were made under the Reagan Administration. The research budget increased from $358.1 million in the fiscal year 1991 to $525.9 proposed for the fiscal year 1993. Seeking a 'strong scientific foundation' for a Federal agency. But the analysis found that, after ad- justing for inflation, the budget was 3 percent less than it was in 1981. Dr. Bernard D. Goldstein of Rutgers University, a member of the four- member panel of scientists that stud- ied the E.P.A.'s research, said the pan- el held three public meetings, inter- viewed 30 scientists and other experts on environmental issues and received additional comments from 25 others. Science Counseling Urged "There is a perception that the quali- ty of science at the E.P.A. is uneven and that the agency's policies and guidelines lack a strong scientific foun- dation," Dr. Goldstein said at the hear- ing. The agency needs to recognize the importance of quality science, he said, and include scientific advice "early and often in its deliberations." When it considers regulations, Dr.. Goldstein said, the environmental agency "always has someone from the I general counsel's office to assure that what it is doing is in compliance with the law." He added, "We suggest the same rplg for science in these delibera- tions." Responding to the report's recom- mendations, Mr. Reilly said he wanted ~~'~eport in California Recommends Customizing High School Studies agency policies to be driven by rational priorities based on dealing with the greatest environmental risk, and not on the popular crises of the day. Science and research play a major role in determining both risks and pri- orities, he said, and have been improv- ing at the agency in recent years. 'Pro-Science' Culture Sought Saying he wanted to "alter the cul- ture at the agency to be more pro- science," Mr. Reilly said the E.P.A. would try to attract prominent enviro- mental scientists and engineers to the agency for permanent positions by es- tablishing the equivalent of six en- dowed chairs at the agency, at $1 mil- lion for each. Other parts of the plan are these: 9Reorganizing the staff into areas by issue, so that work can be conducted long in advance of crises. Some of the areas would include drinking water pollution, climate change, species loss and indoor air pollution. 9lncreasing the involvement of aca- demic scientists with the agency by reducing contract research at E.P.A. offices and laboratories, and offering more competitive grants for university researchers. 9Estabiishing a new standard for research done by the agency, making all of it of publishable quality and as- suring suring taht all of it gets reviewed by a panel of peers, which Mr. Reilly said is often not the case now. qCreating a board of scientific coun- selors, made up of the best scientists in academia, government and industry, to advise the E.P.A.'s research division. qStarting programs to encourage young scientists to choose the E.P.A. as a career to supplement the agency's aging cadre of scientists, and seeking more money to update aging equip- ment at its laboratories. "I believe that the steps we are pro- posing to take will fundamentally alter the way in which scientific information is developed and used in the E.P.A.," Mr. Reilly said. Everything you need to lil~' know for your business day is in Business Day. The New York Times Emerson Him Moore E'xecu Bernhardt b Barcolounge Jaymar, n HANCC Iff 1 9 :41 1 4 t.eether Fumitur frtxn Howdo ya best product? H paying the best t 10th fnternation have all the ansv buying leattter'ts r DATE: MAF TIMES: EVE CALL 21.