Sound Science Act of 2013

To ensure high standards for Federal agency use of scientific information. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sound Science Act of 2013 2. Ensuring high standards for agency use of scientific information (a) Requirement for final guidelines Not later than January 1, 2014, each Federal agency shall have in effect guidelines for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of scientific information relied upon by such agency. (b) Content of guidelines The guidelines described in subsection (a), with respect to a Federal agency, shall ensure that— (1) when scientific information is considered by the agency in policy decisions— (A) the information is subject to well-established scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate; (B) the agency appropriately applies the scientific information to the policy decision; (C) except for information that is protected from disclosure by law or administrative practice, the agency makes available to the public the scientific information considered by the agency; (D) the agency gives greatest weight to information that is based on experimental, empirical, quantifiable, and reproducible data that is developed in accordance with well-established scientific processes; and (E) with respect to any proposed rule issued by the agency, such agency follows procedures that include, to the extent feasible and permitted by law, an opportunity for public comment on all relevant scientific findings; (2) the agency has procedures in place to make policy decisions only on the basis of the best reasonably obtainable scientific, technical, economic, and other evidence and information concerning the need for, consequences of, and alternatives to the decision; and (3) the agency has in place procedures to identify and address instances in which the integrity of scientific information considered by the agency may have been compromised, including instances in which such information may have been the product of a scientific process that was compromised. (c) Approval needed for policy decisions To take effect No policy decision issued after January 1, 2014, by an agency subject to this section may take effect prior to such date that the agency has in effect guidelines under subsection (a) that have been approved by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (d) Policy decisions not in compliance A policy decision of an agency that does not comply with guidelines approved under subsection (c) shall be deemed to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and otherwise not in accordance with law. (e) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Agency The term agency (2) Policy decision The term policy decision (A) the listing, labeling, or other identification of a substance, product, or activity as hazardous or creating risk to human health, safety, or the environment; and (B) agency guidance. (3) Agency guidance The term agency guidance

Summary: Sound Science Act of 2013 - Requires federal agencies, by January 1, 2014, to have in effect guidelines to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the scientific information upon which the agencies rely. Prohibits any policy decision issued by an agency after January 1, 2014, from taking effect unless such agency has in effect guidelines for use of scientific information that have been approved by the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.