Administration pressures researchers: Soften report on impacts of new water rules on coal mining jobs

Fox News reports that technical consultants hired to estimate the impact on coal mining jobs from new EPA streams and waterways rules claim the administration put on pressure to 'soften' those job-loss estimates.

Steve Gardner, president of Kentucky consulting firm ECSI testified before a House Natural Resources Committee subcommittee in Washington on Friday. Gardner claimed that after they submitted their initial report, the water regulations research project members “were subsequently pressured to not only keep the findings under wraps but ‘revisit’ the study in order to show less of an impact on jobs.”

Even more disturbing, when “the project team refused to ‘soften’ the numbers, the firms working on the study were told the contract would not be renewed.”

This is another unfortunate example of how government sponsored research goes astray. It is refreshing that Mr. Gardner and his team had the integrity to refuse to commit such subterfuge. It is depressing that our government would stoop to such action.