Scientific Integrity Annual Reports

In accordance with EPA’s commitment to transparency, as well as outlined in the Scientific Integrity Policy, EPA's Scientific Integrity Program creates an annual report that chronicles the implementation of EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy and EPA’s commitment to scientific integrity. The annual report is developed by the Scientific Integrity Official (SIO) and the Scientific Integrity Committee (SIC) and presented to the Chief Scientist (previously the Science Advisor). The report discusses highlights of annual activities, summary of Scientific Integrity concerns, and future initiatives to further a culture of scientific integrity within EPA.

Annual Reports by Year

2020

2020 Annual Report

The full 2020 annual report can be accessed on the 2020 Full Report page. Below is a snapshot of the 2020 report.

Highlights of Annual Activities

FY 2020 activities include the annual agency-wide meeting on scientific integrity, quarterly scientific integrity committee meetings, both in-person and virtual outreach briefings to a variety of EPA officials and external groups on scientific integrity, completion of the scientific integrity committee charter, and the selection of the 2020 EPA National Honor Award for Scientific Integrity. The Program conducted mandatory employee onboarding, general scientific integrity, and a training module specifically designed for managers and supervisors. Through the end of FY 2020, 71% of EPA employees enrolled in the Scientific Integrity Mandatory Training for New Hires training course successfully completed the onboarding training.

Summary of Scientific Integrity Concerns

EPA’s Scientific Integrity Program received 56 requests for advice and 17 new allegations of lapses of scientific integrity, and five allegations were closed.

Future Initiatives

The Scientific Integrity Program has outlined several future initiatives such as finalizing the Approaches for Expressing and Resolving Differing Scientific Opinions (DSO) and the US EPA Procedures for Addressing Scientific Integrity Concerns as well as whiteboard videos on specific training topics.