PEER Opens Investigation into EPA’s Use of Artificial Intelligence

Source Domain: peer.org

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has filed a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to obtain records on the agency’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The requests aim to clarify the extent to which AI systems analyze employee communications, report on anti-Trump sentiment, and assist in evaluating chemical safety and other regulatory decisions.
The filing follows reports that the EPA may use AI for workforce surveillance and automated administrative tasks, along with statements from Administrator Lee Zeldin promoting AI deployment to expedite chemical reviews.
Specific documents requested include records on the integration of AI tools with EPA’s systems, keyword alert lists for analyzing employee communications, AI-generated reports categorizing employees based on ideological neutrality, records pertaining to EPA’s chemical assessments using AI, and correspondence related to senior EPA leadership on AI deployment.
PEER argues that transparency is essential when AI tools may influence employee rights and public health and has requested expedited processing of the requests and a fee waiver due to the significant public interest in EPA’s AI use.

You may have missed