2021 Annual Report on Scientific Integrity

This report highlights scientific integrity accomplishments from fiscal year 2021 as well as ongoing actions and future plans.

Executive Summary

The Scientific Integrity Annual Report discusses the implementation of EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy (the Policy) and highlights activities and accomplishments from FY 2021. The Scientific Integrity Program (the Program) continued several initiatives to enhance the culture of scientific integrity at EPA (the Agency) including: quarterly meetings of the Scientific Integrity Committee; annual report; Annual Agency-Wide Scientific Integrity Meeting; scientific integrity onboard training; and coordination with the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Shield containing the definition of scientific integrity

In FY 2021, the Program focused on completing requirements set forth by the Biden-Harris administration in their January 2021 executive memorandum (the Memo) “Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking.” The Memo called for the creation of the Scientific Integrity Fast-Track Action Committee (the Task Force) for which EPA’s Scientific Integrity Official, Dr. Francesca T. Grifo, was selected as a co-chair. The Program began working on an updated Scientific Integrity Policy as required by the Memo. In January 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration also released executive order 13990 (the Order) on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis. This order directed agencies, including the EPA, to review and address promulgation of Federal regulations during the previous four years that conflict with national objectives. In compliance with the Order, the Program undertook reviews of alleged Scientific Integrity Policy violations.

FY 2021 marked the distribution of the biennial Scientific Integrity Agencywide Survey (the Survey), which was completed by 2,668 employees. The Survey provides a chance for the regular analysis of scientific integrity topics across the Agency. There were responses from employees in every office and region. Survey methodologies are described in this report, and the full survey results can be found here.

The Program provides mandatory online scientific integrity training for new EPA employees within six months of their start date. Through the end of FY 2021, 2,444 EPA employees have successfully completed the onboarding training. The Scientific Integrity Official also provided several presentations on Best Practices for Leaders to managers, supervisors, and SES members throughout the year.

The Scientific Integrity Official continued to assist employees who had scientific integrity questions or concerns. During FY 2021, EPA’s Scientific Integrity Program received 93 requests for advice and eight new allegations of lapses of scientific integrity. Additionally, one allegation was closed during FY 2021.

Further progress must be made to fully ensure a robust culture of scientific integrity at the Agency. Looking forward, the Program will continue work on an updated Scientific Integrity Policy, release detailed results from the Survey, implement plans to complete scientific integrity objectives set forth in EPA’s strategic plan, create new trainings on varying scientific integrity topics, and continue work on open OIG recommendations.