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EPA Accused of Dumping Documents
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is accusing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of “frantically dispersing” its library collections to pre-empt a Democrat-controlled Congress from reversing the agency’s decision to shutter libraries around the country.
The Washington-based environmental watchdog group has posted internal e-mails on its website as well as employee reports that indicate the agency is directing employees at one library to throw materials into the trash bin.
“By its actions, it appears that the appointed management at EPA is determined is actually reduce the sum total of human knowledge,” said Jeff Ruch, executive director of the group. “EPA is not an agency renowned for its speed so its undue haste in dumping library holdings suggests a political agenda rather than anything resembling a rational information plan.”
The EPA responded to the allegations by saying that it is committed to ensuring that agency-generated materials are available to the public, scientists and the legal community.
“By digitizing these documents, EPA is providing comprehensive access to agency materials through the EPA’s public web site,” an agency spokesperson said in a written response to questions. “Retrieving materials will not only be more efficient, but materials will be easier to locate by using the agency’s online collection and reference services.”
The spokesperson said the agency is keeping a hard copy of all unique documents at its repository.
The agency is not recycling or disposing of any unique agency documents or externally developed materials that cannot be accessed elsewhere, the spokesperson said
By digitizing these documents, EPA is providing comprehensive access to agency materials through the EPA’s public web site,” an agency spokesperson said in a written response to questions. “Retrieving materials will not only be more efficient, but materials will be easier to locate by using the agency’s online collection and reference services.”
The spokesperson said the agency is keeping a hard copy of all unique documents at its repository.
The agency is not recycling or disposing of any unique agency documents or externally developed materials that cannot be accessed elsewhere, the spokesperson said
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