Forwarded to you by Jane Clark October 2004 Big Buddy Government By George Sorvalis and Paul Orum Working Group on Community Right-to-Know Brenda Afzal, a registered nurse in Baltimore, tried to find out about dangerous chemicals stored in her area, but the Department of Justice denied her reliable access to this public information. Joseph McCormick of Floyd, Va. tried to educate neighbors about plans to run a gas pipeline through his community, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied him information on the proposed pipeline route. And Glenda Bowling of Aberdeen, Md. sought maps on water contamination in her neighborhood's drinking water wells, but the Department of Defense withheld the maps. These stories illustrate government withholding public health and environmental information from citizens. Lacking information, people don't find out about pollution problems or hazards, and must rely on government to fix problems, with no recourse if the problems are not addressed. In Aldous Huxley's science fiction classic Brave New World, the government is Big Brother, watching citizens' every move. On environmental health and safety, our government is more like 'Big Buddy' than Big Brother. By withholding information from the public, those who control the government imply that we should trust them like we trust our best buddy. But do you trust government to protect your health without public accountability and oversight? Shortly after September 11th, government agencies removed more than six thousand public documents from their websites, according to the Center for American Progress. None of the information removed was classified. Agencies removed data that helped communities plan for and protect against chemical hazards, pipeline dangers, and nuclear power plant accidents. Environmental information stored in government filing cabinets, such as emergency evacuation plans, is also harder to access. The Freedom of Information Act provides public access to government-held information unless certain exemptions apply (such as privacy, trade secrets, or national security). However, in October 2001, US Attorney General John Ashcroft specifically discouraged agencies from releasing information to citizens under the Act as long as there are technical grounds for withholding it. New rules, directives and legislation now authorize government officials to 'protect' information that was never classified. Bureaucrats can simply label information as 'sensitive security information,' 'critical infrastructure information,' or 'sensitive but unclassified,' taking it out of the public domain. The Department of Homeland Security is seeking new authority to clear-cut forests or drain wetlands without public review and comment as required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Under the proposal, "appropriate security and environmental officials will ensure that the consideration of environmental effects will be consistent with the letter and intent of [the Act]." In other words, the public would have to trust the government's word that the projects are environmentally sound. However, government secrecy is not going unnoticed. The US Congress Government Reform Committee released a report in September 2004 titled "Secrecy in the Bush Administration." The report concludes that, "The administration's actions represent an unparalleled assault on the principle of open government and accountability." US Representative Henry Waxman (Ca.) has introduced the "Restore Open Government Act" to reverse the rising tide of government secrecy. Senators Carl Levin (Mich.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.) have introduced the "Restoration of Freedom of Information Act" to repeal new secrecy provisions. In addition, citizen coalitions like OpenTheGovernment.org have formed to advocate for less secrecy and more democracy. People in communities working to make their neighborhoods safer feel the brunt of this secrecy. To them the retort, "Don't worry, trust Big Buddy," is unsatisfactory. # # # George Sorvalis and Paul Orum are Outreach Coordinator and Director of the Working Group on Community Right-to-Know in Washington, DC (www.crtk.org). © 2004 Working Group on Community Right to Know. All rights reserved. 218 D Street S.E., Washington DC 20003, (202) 544-2714 Please feel free to copy and disseminate this newsletter with proper credit http://www.crtk.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/