GAO Finds Data Quality Problems With Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reports
ICANN Subject to Data Quality Act
Other 2004 Articles
2003 - 1999
Enviros Discover (And Use) Data Quality Act
OIRA Has Increased The Transparency Of Its Agency Reviews
More On Scandalous Mutual Funds
The Need For More Open Source Watchdogs
CRE Gives Universities An Education
CSPI Embraces Data Quality Act
CRE's "Sledgehammer"
The Data Quality Act is CRE's "sledgehammer," at least according to one environmentalist interviewed by Inside EPA. Environmentalists and university researchers are having conniptions over one of CRE's newest regulatory watchdog actions. CRE has undertaken a campaign to ensure that EPA and other agencies are able to use university and other third-party research in regulatory proceedings only if that information complies with the Data Quality Act and implementing guidelines. CRE put the bite on a joint filing by Cornell University and NRDC in an EPA proceeding by notifying the agency that any final action which incorporated the apparently flawed Cornell/NRDC comments would be subject to challenge under the Data Quality Act. Objections ranged from claims that CRE was attempting to "blockade the free exchange of reliable scientific information" to concerns that some scientists may not want to risk industry lawsuits. Winston is puzzled by the concerns since he assumes scientists would both want and take steps to ensure that their research meets federally-mandated quality standards. Winston is also curious as to why so many environmentalists are sure that federal quality standards are a threat to their data.
Click to read article
CRE Regulatory Services
CSPI Asks Dentists to Put the Bite on Corporate Responsibility
The Coca-Cola Corporation recently donated $1 million to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to "support important clinical, basic and behavioral research" and "create public and professional educational programs, based on science, that promote improved dental health for children." Instead of applauding this generous act of good corporate citizenship, which promises to improve the dental health of countless children, the Center for Science in the Public Interest is asking the Academy to refuse the money. Watchdog Watch is tempted to suggest that CSPI should not ask AAPD to turn down the funds unless they were willing to make up the money out of their own resources. However, if AAPD were to adhere to the CSPI's principle of not accepting funds from organizations whose actions are contrary to children's health, the dental association might have to refuse CSPI funding.
Click to read the article
CRE Regulatory Services
CRE Rebuts NRDC's Third-Party Comments on EPA's Biosolids Proposal on Data Quality Grounds
NRDC submitted detailed comments on EPA's draft biosolids risk assessment and NODA which argued that EPA must strictly regulate land-applied biosolids because they pose a significant incremental risk over the background risk from dioxin and related compounds. After careful review in its Watchdog Watch role, CRE found that the NRDC comments contained many substantial inaccuracies, omissions, biases, and lack of reproducibility. When these defects in the NRDC comments are illuminated, it is clear that the NRDC comments cannot be used by EPA under Data Quality standards and that, if anything, the EPA draft risk assessment overestimates the reasonably anticipated risks from dioxin and related compounds in land-applied biosolids.
Click to read the CRE comments
Click to read the NRDC comments
CRE Regulatory Services
OFHEO Rebuts Statements Made by FM Watch Regarding Risk Based Capital Rule
In a letter to Chairman Baker, dated September 20th, Armando Falcon, Jr., OFHEO Director, refutes a letter from FM Watch expressing concerns that revisions to Financial Accounting Standard 133 (FAS 133) would adversely affect The Enterprises of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mr. Falcon argues that changing the capital requirement accounting practices, specifically GAAP, used in calculating derivatives "should not be viewed as either a benefit or detriment to the Enterprises". And further, "Both institutions met the risk-based capital requirement with substantial surpluses. Freddie Mac had a surplus of $14 billion and Fannie Mae had a surplus of $6 billion", Falcon emphasizes that the Enterprises would not have been impacted by calculations made at the end of the first quarter. Perhaps most significant is FM Watch raising the issue of changes to the RBC rule's compliance with the law, with regard to the 30% add-on. Falcon notes that, regarding the add-on, "the amendment's adjustment to capital requirements is made after the 30% add-on for management and operations risk." The letter affirms that updates to FAS 133 will not have a significant impact on the risk-based capital requirement, and that changes to calculation procedures that are based on the 1992 Act are necessary.
Click to read List of Submission Received by OFHEO
CRE Regulatory Services
Draft Executive Order on Public Participation
in Agency Settlements
Watchdog Watch has prepared a draft Executive Order requiring that
federal agencies engaged in litigation afford the public an opportunity
for notice and comment on proposed settlement agreements that may
impact federal regulatory actions. Public notice and comment rights
are already provided in several other regulatory contexts (e.g.,
anti-trust consent decrees; consent judgments where the government
is a plaintiff enforcing various environmental laws). Agency settlements
in this type of case often have major regulatory impacts on stakeholders
who are not party to the litigation and, therefore, currently have
no voice in the settlement process. The Executive Order would guarantee
full transparency and full public participation in settlements that
will determine the course of major regulatory programs for years
to come.
Click
to review letter to OMB transmitting the draft Executive Order
Click
to review the draft Executive Order on Public Participation in Agency
Settlements
