[OPLINLIST] FW: [ALA-WO:332] Save EPA Libraries!

Thu Oct 26 16:54:11 EDT 2006

FYI, Kent
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From: ALAWASH E-MAIL [mailto:ALAWASH at alawash.org] 
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:36 PM
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Subject: [ALA-WO:332] Save EPA Libraries!

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American Library Association
Washington Office Newsline

ALAWON
Volume 15, Number 115
DATE : October 26, 2006

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Save EPA Libraries!

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CALL BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS IMMEDIATELY AND ASK THEM TO SIGN ONTO the
Boxer- Lautenberg  "Dear Colleague" letter asking the Senate
Appropriations Committee to direct EPA to maintain access and research
expertise at ALL of EPA's regional and headquarter libraries until the
Agency solicits adequate public and Congressional input.

Background: 

Senators Barbara Boxer and Frank Lautenberg have drafted a letter to the
Senate Appropriations Committee stating their concern that EPA is
dismantling their unique library system (see below).

As you know, the government, business and the general public depend on
EPA's libraries to conduct research critical to protecting public
health, enforcing environmental laws, and promoting sound economic,
land-use planning and other decisions.   Closure of these facilities
will severely limit, and in some cases eliminate, the information
resources needed by those investigating issues critical to environmental
safety and health. 

Although EPA's FY2007 budget hasn't been passed yet, this year EPA has
already eliminated or reduced library service covering 31 states (see
list below below ).

ACTION

CALL BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND ASK THEM TO SIGN ONTO  Boxer-
Lautenberg "Dear Colleague" letter!  The letter asks the Appropriators
to direct EPA to maintain access and research expertise at all of EPA's
regional and headquarter libraries until the Agency solicits adequate
public and Congressional input.

The deadline for signing the letter is November  1st, so call today!
Tell your Senator's Office that they can arrange to sign the letter by
calling Grant Cope (4-7931) or Daniel Rosenberg (4-7225) and that they
must do so before November 1st. 

 Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee: 

October 26, 2006 

Honorable Thad Cochran, Chair 
Appropriations Committee 
U.S. Senate 

Honorable Conrad Burns, Chair 
Appropriations Committee 
Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies 
U.S. Senate 
Honorable Robert C. Byrd, Ranking Member 
Appropriations Committee 
U.S. Senate 

Honorable Byron Dorgan, Ranking Member 
Appropriations Committee 
Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies 
U.S. Senate 

Dear Colleague: 

        We are writing to request that you direct the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to restore and maintain public access and onsite
library collections and services at EPA's headquarters, regional,
laboratory, and specialized program libraries while the Agency solicits
and considers public input on its plan to drastically cut its library
budget and services.  Government representatives, businesses and
citizens use information in these libraries to protect public health,
enforce environmental laws, and promote sound decision-making.  We are
concerned that EPA is already dismantling its unique library system
without including the public or Members of Congress in the
decision-making.  Congress should not allow EPA to gut its library
system, which plays a critical role in supporting the Agency's mission
to protect the environment and public health. 

EPA has already eliminated or reduced library service to the public in
seven EPA regions covering 31 states and is planning to close its
Headquarters' library and maintain it only as a repository.
(Attachment)  EPA has also closed its pesticide and toxics program
library, reducing access to unique materials needed to assess pesticides
and other chemicals' potential health effects on children.  EPA is
implementing these devastating closures on the grounds that they expect
to save $2 million.  

        EPA's libraries provide far more benefits than the minor cost
reductions resulting from their closure.  A 2004 EPA report found that
"[c]alculated conservatively, the benefit-to-cost ratio for EPA library
services ranges between 2:1 and 5.7:1."  The report noted that libraries
saved EPA professional staff $7.5 million and non-EPA personnel $2.8
million, in 2003; and that one-third of the libraries' work gave EPA $22
million in benefits.  

        The American Library Association, American Association of Law
Libraries, and Special Library Association strongly oppose the cuts,
pointing out that EPA has "unique collections, including an estimated
50,000 one-of-a-kind primary source documents that are available nowhere
else."  Notes provided by the American Library Association that recount
a meeting with EPA on the library closures state that their warnings
that the Agency should develop a new system before closing libraries
"fell on deaf ears."  Unions representing 10,000 EPA scientists,
engineers, and other staff have similar concerns.  They note that "[t]he
ability of EPA to respond to emergencies will be reduced because
important reference materials may be unavailable or take significant
time to receive from storage or another library."  

        A document from EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance (OECA) about the library restructuring expresses concern about
the Agency's failure to adequately assess costs and funding needs,
maintain critical information, and ensure data accessibility.  OECA
notes that the libraries have information important to specific regions,
states and locales, and unique data on industrial processes and
analytical methods.  OECA has indicated that it fears that dispersal of
this material without proper tracking and access could undercut
rulemakings and the ability to "substantiate and support findings,
determinations, and guidance."  

We are extremely troubled that EPA is rushing to eliminate or reduce
library operations without adequately consulting Congress or the public.
We respectfully request that you direct EPA in the FY 2007 Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Bill to restore and maintain public
access and onsite library collections and services at EPA's
headquarters, regional, laboratory, and specialized program libraries to
the status they held as of January 1, 2006.  We also ask that you direct
EPA to solicit and consider public and Congressional input, in an open
process, prior to making any decision to close a library, cut services,
or dramatically restructure the Agency's library system.  

Sincerely, 

Barbara Boxer                                           Frank R.
Lautenberg 
United States Senator                                United States
Senator 

CC:  Senator Ted Stevens 
Senator Arlen Specter 
Senator Pete Domenici 
Senator Christopher Bond 
Senator Mitch McConnell 
Senator Richard Shelby 
Senator Judd Gregg 
Senator Robert Bennett 
Senator Larry Craig 
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson 
Senator Mike DeWine 
Senator Sam Brownback 
Senator Wayne Allard 
Senator Daniel Inouye 
Senator Patrick Leahy 
Senator Tom Harkin 
Senator Barbara Mikulski 
Senator Harry Reid 
Senator Herb Kohl 
Senator Patty Murray 
Senator Dianne Feinstein 
Senator Richard Durbin 
Senator Tim Johnson 
Senator Mary Landrieu 

Status of EPA Regional Library Closures and Reductions in Service:

(Specialized Libraries Not Included)

1.  Closed 

	*	Region 5, which served Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  
	*	Regions 6, which serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Iowa. 
	*	Region 7, which serves Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.  

2.   Closed to the Public with Reduced Hours to EPA Staff 

	*	Region 2 Library, which served New York, New Jersey,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

3.  Reduced Access to EPA Staff and the Public 

	*	EPA Region 1, which serves Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  
	*	EPA Region 9, which serves Arizona, California, Hawaii,
Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations. 
	*	EPA Region 10, which serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Washington, and Native Tribes. 
	*	EPA Headquarters 

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ALAWON Editor:
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