The following ALA Action Alert from ALA provides additional details, and copies of MLA and AAHSL's letters to Congress on this issue, can be accessed at http://www.mlanet.org/government/gov_pdf/200607_epa_letter.pdf and http://www.mlanet.org/government/gov_pdf/2006epafinalletter.pdf.
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American Library Association Washington Office Newsline ALAWON Volume 15, Number 115
DATE : October 26, 2006
Save EPA Libraries!
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 United States Senator, Frank R. Lautenberg 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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