HONEST Act

To prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 HONEST Act 2. Data transparency Section 6(b) of the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 ( 42 U.S.C. 4363 (b) (1) The Administrator shall not propose, finalize, or disseminate a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such covered action is— (A) the best available science; (B) specifically identified; and (C) publicly available online in a manner that is sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results, except that any personally identifiable information, trade secrets, or commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential, shall be redacted prior to public availability. (2) The redacted information described in paragraph (1)(C) shall be disclosed to a person only after such person signs a written confidentiality agreement with the Administrator, subject to guidance to be developed by the Administrator. (3) In making information publicly available pursuant to paragraph (1)(C), the Administrator— (A) may coordinate with another Federal agency to use an existing website maintained by the Federal agency to make the information available; and (B) shall not be required to duplicate the public availability of the information if that information has been made available by another Federal agency in accordance with paragraph (1)(C). (4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as— (A) requiring the Administrator to disseminate scientific and technical information; (B) superseding any nondiscretionary statutory requirement; or (C) requiring the Administrator to repeal, reissue, or modify a regulation in effect on the date of enactment of the Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 (5) In this subsection— (A) the term covered action (B) the term scientific and technical information (i) materials, data, and associated protocols necessary to understand, assess, and extend conclusions; (ii) computer codes and models involved in the creation and analysis of such information; (iii) recorded factual materials; and (iv) detailed descriptions of how to access and use such information. (6) The Administrator shall carry out this subsection in a manner that does not exceed $1,000,000 per fiscal year, to be derived from amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated. .

Summary: Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 or the HONEST Act This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support the action is the best available science, specifically identified, and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. Covered actions are risk, exposure, or hazard assessments, criteria documents, standards, limitations, regulations, regulatory impact analyses, or guidance. Personally identifiable information, trade secrets, or commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential must be redacted prior to public availability. The EPA may use an existing website maintained by another federal agency to make the scientific and technical information available.