PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTKnet: Access Policies & Tools

Numerous tools are available for citizens to learn about threats to public health in our communities and nationwide and how our government is responding to environmental challenges.

EPA Expands Public Participation on Hazardous Waste Cleanup (U.S. EPA)

The EPA has launched an initiative to help communities more effectively participate in government decisions related to land cleanup, emergency preparedness and response, and the management of hazardous substances and waste. The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) plan lays out steps to provide communities with information and opportunities to influence decisions on environmental cleanups. Read the plan.

(21 May 2010)

EPA and DHS Order BP to Stop Hiding Oil Spill Information (OMB Watch)

Today the EPA and Homeland Security took steps to increase the transparency of the response to BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil company's actions have been criticized for failing to disclose or monitor important information about the spill, including the quantity of oil erupting into the Gulf, the potential health impacts of the oil and the chemicals used to disperse it, and water and air quality information.

(20 May 2010)

How Toxic Are Dispersants Being Used In Gulf Oil Spill? (USA Today)

The two "dispersants" now being dumped onto the Gulf oil spill are banned in the UK; and more effective and less toxic alternatives exist. Information on the toxicitiy, ingredients, and health impacts of the dispersants is either unkown or being kept secret.

(20 May 2010)

BP Withholds Oil Spill Facts — And Government Lets It (McClatchy Newspapers)

BP has not publicly divulged the results of tests on the extent of workers' exposure to evaporating oil or from the burning of crude over the gulf, even though researchers say those data are crucial to determining whether the conditions are safe; plus the company is not monitoring the extent of the spill.

(19 May 2010)

Long-Delayed Senate Climate Bill Considers Need for Transparency (OMB Watch)

The new Senate climate and energy bill includes several provisions calling for transparent and participatory policies, especially relating to measures that would create new financial markets for buying and selling the right to pollute. How well such transparency would be implemented is a major question.

(18 May 2010)

EPA Puts More Environment Online (OMB Watch)

Several new online tools developed by the EPA are now available to provide the public with a variety of environmental information collected by the agency.

(18 May 2010)

Emissions Often Underestimated, EPA Standards Old (Associated Press)

An AP investigation suggests "pollution from petrochemical plants is at least 10 times greater than what is reported to the government and the public." The formulas and equipment EPA and facilities use to track emissions are old and unreliable.

(14 May 2010)

Gulf Oil Spill Health Hazards

Learn more about the possible human health impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with this factsheet.

(13 May 2010)

Fragrance Companies Withhold Chemical Information (CNN)

"Perfumes commonly list 'fragrance' as an ingredient, rather than naming the specific chemicals involved, withholding information that could cause allergic reactions and other health effects, a report released Wednesday asserts."

(13 May 2010)

EPA Environmental Information Conference Free to Public on Web

EPA's 2010 Environmental Information Symposium - which this year focuses on transparency and open government - will be accessible free to the public via the Internet.

(07 May 2010)