Are Foxes Guarding the Chickens at the EPA?

Last Week, The Washington Post reported that budget cuts by the EPA at 26 research libraries succeeded in curbing access by researchers to key environmental data. Here's a quote about the significance of the libraries:

The libraries provide technical information and documentation for enforcement cases and help EPA staff members track new environmental technologies and the health risks associated with dangerous chemicals.

They also are repositories of scientific information that is used to back up the agency's positions on new regulations and environmental reports and data that are tapped by people such as developers and state and local officials. The collections include hard-to-find copies of documents on federal Superfund hazardous waste sites, water-quality data and the health of regional ecosystems.

Yesterday, Associated Press reported that key advisors for the EPA worked for companies with chemicals under EPA scrutiny. Here's a quote:

A House committee opened an investigation Monday into potential conflicts of interest in scientific panels that advise the Environmental Protection Agency.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee cited the case of eight scientists who were consultants or members of EPA science advisory panels assessing the human health effects of toxic chemicals while getting research support from the chemical industry on the same chemicals they were examining.

In two cases, EPA advisers were employed by companies that made or worked with manufacturers of the chemicals being evaluated. the committee said.