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Tell the EPA to Keep Information about Toxic Pollution Public
Target: Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection AgencySponsored by: Union of Concerned Scientists
We think American citizens have a right to know what toxic chemicals are being released into their local communities.
But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to significantly limit the information that companies are required to disclose about their release of hazardous chemicals including toxins like mercury, lead, and dioxin into our environment.
Through its plan to reduce the reporting requirements of its Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program, the EPA is proposing to take away an important tool for protecting public health and our environment. In its 20 years in existence, the TRI has provided the public with critical information about chemical contaminants that pose a serious threat to our health, while simultaneously providing incentives for companies to reduce their pollution levels.
There is no justification for weakening this successful program today, other than to please large corporate polluters, who view public disclosure as a costly nuisance. That's why we must send a strong message to the Bush Administration that this is unacceptable public policy in a democracy!
The EPA is accepting public comments only until January 13, 2005. Please take a moment to oppose this misguided and dangerous proposal and be included in the public record!
But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to significantly limit the information that companies are required to disclose about their release of hazardous chemicals including toxins like mercury, lead, and dioxin into our environment.
Through its plan to reduce the reporting requirements of its Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program, the EPA is proposing to take away an important tool for protecting public health and our environment. In its 20 years in existence, the TRI has provided the public with critical information about chemical contaminants that pose a serious threat to our health, while simultaneously providing incentives for companies to reduce their pollution levels.
There is no justification for weakening this successful program today, other than to please large corporate polluters, who view public disclosure as a costly nuisance. That's why we must send a strong message to the Bush Administration that this is unacceptable public policy in a democracy!
The EPA is accepting public comments only until January 13, 2005. Please take a moment to oppose this misguided and dangerous proposal and be included in the public record!
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Tell the EPA to Keep Information about Toxic Pollution Public” petition!
# 50:
10:33 am PST, Dec 10,
RayNice Hoffman, Pennsylvania
# 49:
9:41 am PST, Dec 10,
Cheri Duncan, Tennessee
# 48:
9:40 am PST, Dec 10,
Irene Euchler
, Florida
The Bush administration either lies or keeps the public ignorant about polution. Bush did the same thing in Texas (while governor, Texas became the most poluted state in the country) and now he is doing it the rest of the country. Shame!
The Bush administration either lies or keeps the public ignorant about polution. Bush did the same thing in Texas (while governor, Texas became the most poluted state in the country) and now he is doing it the rest of the country. Shame!
# 47:
9:35 am PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, California
EPA, pl. make people aware of these dangers and pl. make them take action to eliminate these toxins.
EPA, pl. make people aware of these dangers and pl. make them take action to eliminate these toxins.
# 46:
9:15 am PST, Dec 10,
David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 45:
8:54 am PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, Missouri
# 44:
8:39 am PST, Dec 10,
Stephanie Carriere, Canada
The world is watching
The world is watching
# 42:
8:10 am PST, Dec 10,
Joanne Ferguson, Ohio
# 41:
7:45 am PST, Dec 10,
Kirk Vogel, Wisconsin
# 40:
7:21 am PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, Canada
# 39:
7:02 am PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, New Jersey
# 38:
6:48 am PST, Dec 10,
Kathleen Cole, Ohio
# 37:
6:38 am PST, Dec 10,
Judith St. Pierre, Texas
# 36:
6:32 am PST, Dec 10,
Alan Carroll, Ireland
# 35:
6:28 am PST, Dec 10,
Ashley Winkler, Texas
# 34:
6:24 am PST, Dec 10,
Shannon Timberlake, Georgia
# 33:
6:12 am PST, Dec 10,
Lawrence Smith, BA, Georgia
Contained within every evil(greedy profiteering republican) act are the seeds of its own destruction. Adhere to the teachings of Jesus, as contained in The Urantia Book, or else suffer the consequences. It IS that simple. TRUTH has been spoken to power, Peace will prevail. Buck Fush!
Contained within every evil(greedy profiteering republican) act are the seeds of its own destruction. Adhere to the teachings of Jesus, as contained in The Urantia Book, or else suffer the consequences. It IS that simple. TRUTH has been spoken to power, Peace will prevail. Buck Fush!
# 32:
6:01 am PST, Dec 10,
Annamaria Koncz, Michigan
# 31:
5:03 am PST, Dec 10,
Vid Pleterski, Slovenia
# 30:
4:27 am PST, Dec 10,
Paula Delavigne, Brazil
# 29:
2:54 am PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, Oklahoma
# 28:
2:45 am PST, Dec 10,
Dani McDaniel, Oklahoma
# 27:
2:16 am PST, Dec 10,
Michael Katz, Illinois
# 26:
2:09 am PST, Dec 10,
Karenlee Elliott-Roose, California
Of coarse we deserve to know. What is this world coming to? Pretty soon we won't have a world to kick around anymore.
Of coarse we deserve to know. What is this world coming to? Pretty soon we won't have a world to kick around anymore.
# 25:
1:53 am PST, Dec 10,
Lebogang Seitshiro, Kentucky
Given the types of diseases, disasters and other environmental and human health related issues we experience nowadays, the question should not be about disclosure anymore. Citizens have the right to know. That's a given. How else can we protect our children, ourselves? Public participation as a monitoring tool for corporations should not be underated. The people can help you keep these companies (who's overiding interest is profit above all else) to stay in check. By having to disclose, they can also monitor themselves. Why should you continually be spending tax payers money to rectify mistakes that could so easily be avoided by controlling corporations and their activities? The EPA has the mandate for this control. So just enforce it! Don't cut corners. We want to know.
Given the types of diseases, disasters and other environmental and human health related issues we experience nowadays, the question should not be about disclosure anymore. Citizens have the right to know. That's a given. How else can we protect our children, ourselves? Public participation as a monitoring tool for corporations should not be underated. The people can help you keep these companies (who's overiding interest is profit above all else) to stay in check. By having to disclose, they can also monitor themselves. Why should you continually be spending tax payers money to rectify mistakes that could so easily be avoided by controlling corporations and their activities? The EPA has the mandate for this control. So just enforce it! Don't cut corners. We want to know.
# 24:
1:41 am PST, Dec 10,
Franziska Eber, Germany
# 23:
11:50 pm PST, Dec 9,
Sherie Anderson, Michigan
# 22:
10:51 pm PST, Dec 9,
Jeremy Meyer, California
# 21:
10:48 pm PST, Dec 9,
Bess Katerinsky, New York
# 20:
10:43 pm PST, Dec 9,
James O Music, Kentucky
# 19:
10:38 pm PST, Dec 9,
Justin Walker, California
# 18:
10:22 pm PST, Dec 9,
Melissa Brinksneader, Indiana
# 17:
9:48 pm PST, Dec 9,
Richard Artley, Idaho
Usually, these toxins are released by greedy people in their endless quest for more money. If my community knows before the toxins are released, the exact date they are planned for release, then there will still be a chance to stop the release.
Usually, these toxins are released by greedy people in their endless quest for more money. If my community knows before the toxins are released, the exact date they are planned for release, then there will still be a chance to stop the release.
# 16:
8:03 pm PST, Dec 9,
William K Lawrence, New York
# 15:
8:01 pm PST, Dec 9,
Kelsey Lissner, California
# 14:
7:22 pm PST, Dec 9,
Dave Luckens, Kentucky
25 years ago,the burden of proof would have been on those agencies which wanted to keep secrets from the general public.who benefits from the public being kept ignorant of the toxic content of the air,water,and food supply?do those benefits outweigh the potential damage to the public?has the damage to the environment already affected our brain function ? not long ago,we had much more respect for the things we held in common.enough musing.why the dadgum secrets ?
25 years ago,the burden of proof would have been on those agencies which wanted to keep secrets from the general public.who benefits from the public being kept ignorant of the toxic content of the air,water,and food supply?do those benefits outweigh the potential damage to the public?has the damage to the environment already affected our brain function ? not long ago,we had much more respect for the things we held in common.enough musing.why the dadgum secrets ?
# 13:
7:09 pm PST, Dec 9,
Tj Carson, Washington D.C.
# 12:
7:04 pm PST, Dec 9,
Michelle Brown, Virginia
# 11:
6:52 pm PST, Dec 9,
Barbara Brewington, Missouri
its about time you did the job you were voted to do start supporting and protecting the people who gave you the job and not the drug companys who only care about the bottom line
its about time you did the job you were voted to do start supporting and protecting the people who gave you the job and not the drug companys who only care about the bottom line
# 10:
6:37 pm PST, Dec 9,
Fred Fall, New Jersey
# 9:
6:33 pm PST, Dec 9,
Sue Davis, Mississippi
# 8:
5:21 pm PST, Dec 9,
Wendy Hojohn, New York
# 7:
4:51 pm PST, Dec 9,
Paul Uecker, Minnesota
# 6:
4:37 pm PST, Dec 9,
Kathryn Pepper, North Carolina
# 5:
4:08 pm PST, Dec 9,
Melody Lee, California
# 4:
3:53 pm PST, Dec 9,
Ryan Sanders, Alaska
These toxins will affect my health and that of my family and friends. I have a RIGHT to know about this and demand this information to be kept public. Secrecy is not Democracy.
These toxins will affect my health and that of my family and friends. I have a RIGHT to know about this and demand this information to be kept public. Secrecy is not Democracy.
# 3:
3:33 pm PST, Dec 9,
Rosemari Roast, Connecticut
# 2:
2:50 pm PST, Dec 9,
Orestis Papadopolos, Greece
# 1:
2:13 pm PST, Dec 9,
Name not displayed, California
Informed consent by the people is a central tenet of a functioning democracy. Corporations cannot be given a free pass to poison our environment while the public is kept in the dark.
Informed consent by the people is a central tenet of a functioning democracy. Corporations cannot be given a free pass to poison our environment while the public is kept in the dark.