[Fwd: PennEnvironment asks you to help keep clean water information public]

[Mark Krull]

FYI

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Dear PennEnvironment supporter,

The Environmental Protection Agency has, for the first time, made key data on the 
amount and type of chemicals being discharged into our waterways by facilities 
regulated by the Clean Water Act available to the public.  This will let communities 
see how well or poorly facilities near them follow the law.

Incredibly, industry and some state governments think the data should be removed.

The EPA is currently taking public comments on whether the data should remain 
available.  Please take a moment to let the EPA know that you want this information to 
remain available.  Follow the link below to go to a web page where you can e-mail the 
EPA.

http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=245&id4=ES


BACKGROUND

On November 20, 2002, the EPA launched a new web site with a searchable online 
database (you can check it out at http://www.epa.gov/echo) with the enforcement and 
compliance history of facilities regulated under the Clean Water Act and other 
environmental laws.  The Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) web site 
includes information on when inspections have been conducted, what violations were 
detected, and what enforcement actions where taken.  ECHO also includes EPA and state 
compliance data under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), and Resource and 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as well as links to additional state information.

The EPA is currently taking public comments on whether the data should remain 
available.  The EPA will be hearing from polluters that this information doesn't need 
to be available online.  We need to make sure that EPA hears from the public that this 
information is invaluable in supporting the public's right to know if plants near them 
are good corporate citizens or law breakers.

Please take a moment to let the EPA know that you want this information to remain 
available.  Follow the link below to go to a web page where you can e-mail the EPA.

http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=245&id4=ES

Sincerely, 

David Masur
PennEnvironment State Director
http://www.PennEnvironment.org

P.S.  Thanks again for your support.  Please feel free to share this e-mail with your 
family and friends.

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