Solari Action Network

[krmaya]

I just got this info from a friend of mine



[An action alert from the Scientific Integrity Program
of the Union of Concerned Scientists
ucsaction.org/campaign/12_1_06_EPA_Library_Closures
-- moderator]

December 1, 2006

The EPA Closes Its Libraries, Destroys Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun
closing its nationwide network of scientific libraries,
effectively preventing EPA scientists and the public
from accessing vast amounts of data and information on
issues from toxicology to pollution. Several libraries
have already been dismantled, with their contents either
destroyed or shipped to repositories where they are
uncataloged and inaccessible.

The scientific information contained in the EPA
libraries is essential to the agency's ability to make
fully informed decisions that carry out its mission of
protecting human health and the environment. Members of
Congress have asked the EPA to cease and desist. Please
call EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at (202) 564-4700
either today, December 1, or Monday, December 4, and
tell him how much scientists rely on data and
literature. Urge him to immediately halt the dismantling
of the library system until Congress approves the EPA
budget and all materials are readily available online.

Update, 12:40p.m. EST 12/1:

A few of hours ago, we told you that the Environmental
Protection Agency has begun closing its scientific
libraries. Several libraries have already been
dismantled, with their contents either destroyed or
shipped to repositories where they are uncataloged and
inaccessible.

Calls are already flooding in and we're having an
effect. Please keep those calls coming! Call EPA
Administrator Stephen Johnson at (202) 564-4700 either
today or Monday and tell him how much scientists rely on
data and literature. Urge him to immediately halt the
dismantling of the library system until Congress
approves the EPA budget and all materials are readily
available online. Click here to tell us the results of
your call.

Unfortunately, we're receiving reports that the EPA is
claiming that the Union of Concerned Scientists has
false information and that none of the libraries have
been closed. Significant evidence proves otherwise.

The Evidence

On the EPA's own library website, the five libraries
that have been closed to date have been removed from the
list and had their websites partially or completely shut
down:

the Headquarters Library
http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/hqirc/

Region 5
http://ucsaction.org/ct/ld_rfsY1QmhD/

Region 6
http://ucsaction.org/ct/o1_rfsY1QmhH/

Region 7
http://www.epa.gov/region7/citizens/irc/index.htm

and the Office of Prevention, Pollution, and Toxic
Substances (OPPTS)
http://ucsaction.org/ct/l1_rfsY1QmhJ/.

The EPA libraries website links to a plan of action
(http://ucsaction.org/ct/od_rfsY1QmhG/) for closing many
libraries and dispersing or disposing of materials. We
also have first-hand accounts from EPA employees that
the libraries have been closed.

The four EPA employees unions have sent a letter
(http://ucsaction.org/ct/lp_rfsY1QmhZ/) asking Congress
to stop the destruction of the library network. A letter
from Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA), Bart Gordon
(D-TN) and John Dingell (D-MI) has prompted an
investigation of the library system by the General
Accountability Office, the investigative arm of
Congress. And members of both the House and Senate have
called upon Administrator Johnson to cease and desist
with the closures until the investigation is complete
and Congress has authorized action; the House letter
calls for a response from the administrator by Monday,
December 4, 2006.

Also, several newspapers have reported or editorialized
about the library closures, including the Boston Globe
(http://ucsaction.org/ct/97_rfsY1QmhY/), the Christian
Science Monitor (http://ucsaction.org/ct/9p_rfsY1QmhT/),
and Cox Newspapers (ucsaction.org/ct/9d_rfsY1QmhR/).
Additional information is provided by the American
Library Association (ucsaction.org/ct/91_rfsY1QmhQ/)
and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
(http://ucsaction.org/ct/l7_rfsY1QmhK/).

These are large agencies; it is not uncommon for an
agency to go into complete denial when confronted with
questions such as the ones we are asking. However, this
only underscores the importance of putting the
administrator's office on notice that we are watching
and will hold them accountable.

Please call EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at (202)
564-4700 either today or Monday. Click here
(http://ucsaction.org/ct/f1_rfsY1Qmyg/) to tell us the
results of your call.

We will update you on the progress of this effort next
week on our website.

Sincerely,

Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer
Scientific Integrity Program

[Catherine]

I just added to the Blog Top Picks. Thanks!