Details of the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to censor and suppress several senior researchers over reports voicing skepticism on anthropogenic global warming (AGW) theory are drawing attention.
Alan Carlin authored a 98-page report urging caution before enacting potential carbon regulation. His report warned against making policy "decisions based on a scientific hypothesis that does not appear to explain most of the available data." The report stated, "My personal view is that there is not currently any reason to regulate (carbon dioxide). There may be in the future. But global temperatures are roughly where they were in the mid-20th century. They're not going up, and if anything they're going down."
Recently released emails from Al McGartland, an EPA administrator, to Carlin reveal a startling tale of bias and suppression. In the email McGartland writes, "The administrator and the administration has decided to move forward... and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision."
Carlin's report was rejected and hushed away. Carlin, though, doesn't blame McGartland. In an interview he states, "It was his view that he either lost his job or he got me working on something else. That was obviously coming from higher levels."
Other released emails reveal that Carlin was forbade to "have any direct communication" with anyone outside his small group on climate issues. Carlin, who's dedicated 38 years of his life to the EPA, adds, "I was told for probably the first time in I don't know how many years exactly what I was to work on. And it was not to work on climate change."
He was shuffled to work on a grants database, moved out of active research. Carlin has authored numerous climate papers and holds a Ph.D in economics from MIT along with an undergraduate physics degree from CalTech.
The EPA denies the censorship. It states, "Claims that this individual’s opinions were not considered or studied are entirely false. This Administration and this EPA Administrator are fully committed to openness, transparency and science-based decision making. These principles were reflected throughout the development of the proposed endangerment finding, a process in which a broad array of voices were heard and an inter-agency review was conducted."
During the Bush administration, environmental advocates and certain EPA individuals complained that pro-AGW reports were being censored. Lisa Jackson, the new Obama-appointed EPA administrator had promised to turn over a new leaf. She had proclaimed, "I will ensure EPA’s efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and overwhelming transparency."