Protests, News Conference Held After EPA Action Regarding Scientists

(Providence, RI)  --  The controversy is continuing over three scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency being pulled from scheduled speeches at a presentation on the state of Narragansett Bay. Several-dozen protesters gathered outside the Providence headquarters of the environmental group Save the Bay yesterday, where the conference was being held, accusing the EPA of censoring its scientists. Senator Jack Reed held a news conference with the rest of Rhode Island's congressional delegation, saying the political interference that led to the scientists not speaking is a disservice to public health. An EPA official told the "Providence Journal" after yesterday's conference that the cancellation of the speeches from the EPA scientists was due to a miscommunication that has been blown out of proportion.