About a month ago, I posted a
diary concerning efforts by House Democrats to keep the EPA's libraries open now that George Bush has decided the best way to stop environmental regulations is to lock up the EPA's records and books. The good news is we now have two Democratic Senators who have joined the fight.
In an alert from PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) they are urging us to contact our senators and tell them to sign onto a letter which Barbara Boxer and Frank Lautenberg drafted to the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding their concern about the EPA information lockup.
When muzzling whistleblowers and altering scientific findings wasn't enough, the Bush administration applied "out of sight, out of mind" to further weaken environmental protection within the EPA.
Three EPA regional libraries, the Headquarters library in Washington D.C. and a specialized chemical research library have all been silently shut down within the last few months.
It's about time for us to speak up.
TAKE ACTION: Call both of your Senators ASAP and ask them to sign onto the Boxer- Lautenberg letter to save the EPA libraries.
Last week Senators Barbara Boxer and Frank Lautenberg drafted a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee stating their concern that EPA is gutting a library system that is crucial to the effective functioning of the agency.
EPA has already eliminated or reduced library services covering 31 states, even before Congress has approved their FY `07 budget. However, the Senate Appropriations Committee can reverse the cuts by directing EPA to restore library funding and services.
PEER's executive director Jeff Ruch has likened these EPA library closures to a "self-imposed lobotomy in that they're cutting access to information for their specialists who need the information to do their jobs."
Call today! (202-244-3121) Tell your Senators that they can arrange to sign the letter by calling Grant Cope (202-244-7931) or Daniel Rosenberg (202-244-7225).
Sincerely,
Carrie Hibbard
Membership & Outreach Coordinator
As I pointed out in my other diary, it's important to note why the Bush administration is doing this because as we know, it has nothing to do with the budget. According to PEER, these libraries are used by the EPA's own scientists to study the safety of chemicals, the environmental effect of new technologies, the status of Superfund hazardous waste sites, water-quality data, and the health of regional ecosystems. They also use this information to support pollution prosecutions and to track the business histories of regulated industries. And the pro-business Bushies think the best way to "relieve" industry of its environmental burdens is to lock up the information.
The EPA does not have adequate plans or a budget to completely digitize this information, so it will be out of sight, especially for the public.
Contact your senators today and urge them to join Boxer and Lautenberg in challenging this attack on democracy and open government.