information

[Charlie Atherton <charlie@structurex.net>]

GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
I AM COMMENTING IN CAPITAL LETTERS AFTER THE PUBLISHED STATEMENTS.

EPA tries to provide the public with timely, understandable information in useful formats to enable meaningful participation. 

I DON'T TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS.  USUALLY TO GET INFORMATION, THE PUBLIC HAS TO FOIA IT, AND IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 20+ DAYS.  BY THIS TIME THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OVER WITH, SO THE INFORMATION IS USELESS.

I REQUESTED (MAYBE 2 YEARS AGO?)(FOIA) "WORST CASE SCENARIO" (RMP)INFORMATION FROM EPA REGION 6 AND HEADQUARTERS DC AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION TO DATE.  NO FOLLOW-UP BY EPA.  I HAVE CALLED EPA WITH FOLLOW-UP'S BUT STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN A REPLY.

The Agency wants to ensure that the public understands both the legal requirements for its actions and the technical information that supports a particular policy alternative. 

TO DATE NO ONE IN EPA CAN TELL ME WHY EPA HAS NO TOXIC AIR STANDARDS.  

TO DATE NO ONE IN EPA CAN TELL ME WHY THERE IS NO RULE AGAINST THE FORMATION OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS.

TO DATE NO ONE IN EPA CAN TELL ME WHY TOXIC CHEMICALS IN OUR BREATHING AIR ARE AVERAGED ON A YEARLY BASIS.
THE PUBLIC LOOKS AT CHEMICALS IN OUR BREATHING AIR JUST LIKE THE CHEMICALS WERE WATER LEVELS.  IF EPA USED YEARLY AVERAGING FOR WATER LEVELS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THERE WOULD BE NO LEVEES ON THE RIVER BECAUSE THE YEARLY AVERAGE WOULD SHOW THERE IS NO FLOODING PROBLEM.  WE BELIEVE THAT ONCE CHEMICALS GET OVER A CERTAIN LEVEL IN OUR BREATHING AIR, THAT IT IS THE SAME AS WATER OVER OUR HEADS AND WE SUFFER PERMANENT DAMAGE.

At the national level the Agency disseminates information to stakeholders and the public using print materials, the Web, hotlines, 

EPA HEADQUARTERS DOES NOT HAVE A TOLL FREE PHONE HOTLINE THAT I COULD FIND.  WHEN I TRIED TO GET WORST CASE INFORMATION, EPA PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO TOLL FREE OR HOTLINE TO DC.

EPA also distributes information locally and regionally. Libraries are ways for the Agency to provide information to local groups. 

OUR EXPERIENCE IS IF THE INFORMATION EVER GETS TO THE LIBRARY, THAT IT IS BASICALLY USELESS BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE CHECKED OUT FOR STUDY AND TO COPY IT ON A LIBRARY COPY MACHINE IT TOO COSTLY.  THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE 2 COPIES AT THE LIBRARY, ONE TO STAY AND ONE COPY TO BE CHECKED OUT.
THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT AFTER A TIME FRAME, THE INFORMATION IS REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY AND WE NEVER SEE IT AGAIN.  THE INFORMATION IS NOT A PERMANENT DOCUMENT AVAIABLE FOR REFERENCE, EVEN THOUGH THE INFORMATION IS STILL VALID AND NOT OUTDATED.
EPA INFORMATION SHOULD REMAIN IN LIBRARIES AS LONG AS THE INFORMATION IS VALID AND STILL IN FORCE.
 
Describe the information that you cannot find but would like to have available to you online.
Information that should be online.
 
WE ARE ASKING FOR FULL TIME, REAL TIME, COMMUNITY TOXIC AIR MONITORING RESULTS TO BE POSTED ON A WEB PAGE.
 
Recommend ways for EPA to ensure that the public has adequate time to review information so that it can participate effectively in decision-making processes. 

HAVE 2 COPIES OF THE RELATIVE INFORMATION IN THE LOCAL LIBRARIES BEFORE THE PROCESS BEGINS, HAVE FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE LINED UP TO EXPLAIN THE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, AND MAKE SURE THERE IS A TOLL FREE PHONE OR OTHER WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED QUICKLY.

I HOPE YOUR DAY IS NICE TO YOU.  CHARLIE ATHERTON