RE: Getting Information Out

[Nina Powers <npowers@home.com>]

 I've used this weekend to read suggestions from participants on how to better reach the public. Several have mentioned utilizing local governments and also the need to meet with public. Since EPA regional offices are distant from many of the States they represent, I think partnering with interested local governments has merit. Given the emphasis on fiscal responsibility and not increasing budgets, I'm not suggesting local governments be asked to fund new Federal mandates. However, perhaps EPA could develop a cooperative venture to disseminate environmental information through Natural Resources or Pollution Prevention(P2)departments of local governments. Our County has many employees dedicated to environmental protection that regularily stay in contact with EPA anyway, I imagine many other local governments are similar. Most Counties sponsor community workshops and maintain web sites, perhaps EPA publications and documents could become part of that information outreach. Our Cooperative Extension Office distributes excellent publications from the University of Florida locally on a wide range of disciplines. Since we are a large County,and the Extension office is located in North County,they have a helpmobile that travels to our libraries in the South County areas weekly. This not only helps citizens that don't or can't drive long distances, it reduces the number of vehicle trips to our North County Extension office resulting in decreased fossil fuel consumption (less air pollution) and it encourages the public to use our library system. The EPA could consider getting information out to local communities as well. Federal Agencies are often so geographically isolated from the public whom their decisions impact, cooperative partnerships should be explored.

 Our libraries are a valuable and much used resource in our County, and all have internet access computers. We have an Environmental Library as well. I also liked the previous suggestion that we use libraries to get the EPA in the public consciousness by placing a sign with the EPA logo on the circulation desk to encourage public involvement. The EPA web address could be somehow displayed by public access computers. There are many librarians participating in this e-forum that would have more insight into this possibility than I.