Quick Comments Results: Sept. 18-19

Types of Environmental Information Wanted

• -- FOIA process is now too slow; -- EPA's first customer is general public, not the industries it regulates; -- EPA budget priorities should be shifted so that more dollars, staff go to information retrieval, dispersal to general public; and up-to-date, Internet- compatible databases.
• People want enviornmental information (e.g., agency reports, consultant reports, etc) to be made available in local libraries, in addition to information on the web. Besides EPA and state agency reports, we need to have library access to reports, etc., from city departments. Presently, a poor job is being done to make this print information available in libraries in my city.
• issue of "translating information into lay terms" applies mnot just to regulations, but also to the environmental information, risk date, etc., itself.
• I think that local citizens need more information about how decisions get made and where they can influence the process. I'm not sure that EPA is the right source for this information, however. EPA should provide the necessary background information, but NGOs should be the ones to package materials for citizens interested in getting involved.
• If this National dialogue is to happen again..it might be better served if concurrently at the same time local libraries have ongoing community workshops..where panel dicussions are taking place within the local library.This would enable the community as a whole to make a indepth comments to the local,state and federal agencies about their respective communities needs and wants. Not withstanding it would need a longer time frame..say a month or two ,with once a week input and response. Hope I am clear on what I am trying to say.
• I'm afraid I think almost all of these are very important.
• I tentatively checked the box about translating information into laymen's terms because of the initial clause about describing the regulatory process. A fundamental problem with agency-structured environmental information is the strict adherence to regulatory structure. Water quality is always related to meeting designated use. Air quality is always in terms of in or out of compliance and drinking water is always in terms of meeting standards. The lack of translation to environmental outcomes will not be simply explained by discussion of the regulatory process.
• I still think that the summary of EIS reports be available. However, they should be linked to the entire document if some one wanted more detail. Also in a format that is downloadable.
• Using the Internet to make information available should be part of a strategy that includes outreach to public librarians and coordination with regional library systems. EPA should provide catalog records with hardcopy material for libraries and look at how it can better take advantage of the existing library networks and infrastructure.
• Trust/validity of sites and/or data Access to internet data Internet access for all
• Timely, free access, searchable text, and up-to-date links are the most important to me. We are all pressed for time. Frankly, in a busy Central type library, reference staff do not have the leisure to help patrons navigate through the Web. In smaller, special type libraries, there may be more time available to give personal instruction to patrons and help them navigate. I work in both types of libraries, so I have seen it both ways. The reality is at busy public libraries, patrons using the Web are pretty much left to their own devices. Many libraries don't even have an Interent based computer available to use with the public i.e. Internet accessible computers are reseved in advance by patrons leaving the reference librarian only his or her reference desk computer which, obviously, can't be tied up due to having a line of patrons waiting for you & your help at your reference desk. Basically, you're in triage mode between patrons at your desk and patrons calling in. In San Diego, because we have the luxury of having a public environmental library branch in our system, patrons can come to the environmental library and get much more personal service and hands on help from the librarian than they can if, for example, they go to our main library. The main library, however, has more resources in house (i.e more books, full governemnt doc depository, etc. So, an effective resource sharing and delivery network is essential, If more communities could do this, it would help in getting info to the public. Yes, EPA funding would be great to assist in these endeavors. As would EPA training and community workshops.
• I didn't want to search Health Effects on the EPA web site. I wanted to be able to search the Health Effects Division,HED, in the Office of Pesticides Programs. I would like to access inter-office memos on pesticide determinations for risk assessments, Section 18 Exemptions, reported adverse effects,etc. for the various pesticides under review.
• Translation of environmental information into meaningful cultural indicators. For example, 100 million gallons of water means little to the average citizen because they have no context for it. Translation would be, for the SF BAy area for example, 3 Lake Marrotts in Oakland, or 5 Spring Lakes in Santa Rosa.
• Review of environmental documents by impartial experts. Listing of EPA criteria for the review of assumptions in permit applications. Greater use of news services to publicize both EPA actions and opportunities for public input. Conditioning of EPA grants to require full library participation in information dissemination. Examination of EPA efforts to evaluate all reasonable alternatives to proposed actions that impact public resoources. Exploration of practicality of a nationwide panel for immediate review of both major EPA issues and local documents through local boards guided by library staff.

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