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. Please call EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at (202) 564-4700 --Urge him to immediately HALT the dismantling of the library system until Congress approves the EPA budget and all materials are readily available online. -- Sincerely, Michael Halpern National Field Organizer Scientific Integrity Program Click here***: http://ucsaction.org/ct/f1_rfsY1Qmyg/ to tell Michael Halpern the results of your call. ** Please CONTACT THEM at their website given above- NOT DIRTCHEAPBUILDER.com, PLEASE. I am just trying to get the word out! Charmaine Taylor-Owner www.dirtcheapbuilder.com Here is 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. ***Sincerely, Michael Halpern National Field Organizer Scientific Integrity Program