President's budget includes EPA cut that could reduce access to records

President's budget includes EPA cut that could reduce access to records


By Larry Lipman

Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau

Sunday, March 12, 2006

WASHINGTON — Environmentalists and information specialists are concerned that a Bush administration proposal to cut the Environmental Protection Agency library system's funding by 80 percent could sharply curtail public access to its resources.

Buried in President Bush's budget proposal last month was a plan to reduce the EPA library budget from $2.5 million to $500,000 for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
The library system consists of a two-floor facility at EPA headquarters in Washington, branches in each of the agency's 10 regions and a dozen specialized laboratory libraries that are primarily used by the agency's staff.

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"Obviously, it's disappointing," said former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, who headed the agency during the Clinton administration. "I think public access to information that the EPA has is pretty important. It's the public's information, after all, and they have a right to know. That's a principle that should be just embedded in everything that EPA does."
Information specialists also pounced on the proposed cuts.
"We are troubled by what seems to be an accelerating trend in increased restrictions on access to government information," said Michael Gorman, president of the American Library Association.

"Individuals and communities need to be able to find high-quality, accurate information about issues that concern them, such as the health and safety of their families and communities," Gorman said.
Janice R. Lachance, chief executive officer of the Special Libraries Association, criticized EPA for what she called a pattern of reducing access to information.
"EPA has continually scaled back its investment in the management of information in a time when this is one of the most strategically valuable aspects of organizational management," she said.

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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/nation/epaper/2006/03/12/m16a_EPASUNSHINE_0312.html


(emphasis added)

policy's really are. Heaven forbid we find out what's going on with our environment. But the rich are richer so I guess that's what is really important.

this is a rovian shortcut that will end up being a plus for whoever is the Democratic presidential contender in 2008.