Public Citizen Webinar 3-19-10 – Discussion on Openness and Accountability – Question submitted – What law allows the EPA to exclude public comments and questions from the minutes of a public meeting they held?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Sharon Kramer
 
 

Public Citizen is holding a webinar today. They asked that questions be submitted regarding transparency in government. See below information and forwarded of two questions I submitted.

Sharon,

Thank you for signing up to join Public Citizen and open government leaders in a live online discussion about how the current White House administration is doing when it comes to openness and accountability.

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qJLD4Oz/eGpBnURRDcTXJniXIJm1sL+s
Celebrate Sunshine Week and check out the live webcast!

Click here to view the webcast and participate in the online discussion.

WHAT: Building Transparency: a live webcast on open government.

WHERE: Watch online.

WHEN: Noon – 2:00 p.m. EDT, Friday, March 19.

To submit questions for the panelists during the webcast, send them via email to questions@openthegovernment.org. After the webcast, please share your thoughts about the event in a message to action@citizen.org.

Click here to join the online discussion at noon today!

Thank you for all you do.

Rick, Angela and Glenn
Your advocates at Public Citizen
action@citizen.org

 http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=72MGWzREFMQDsW/jYvbuLniXIJm1sL+s

 

 

From: SNK1955@aol.com
To: questions@openthegovernment.org
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:08:01 EDT
Subject: EPA not open 2.3.10. What law allows them to exclude public comment from mins?

 

In Sept of 2008, the Federal GAO issued a report after a two year audit into the health effects of mold titled “Indoor Mold: Better Coordination of Research on Health Effects and More Consistent Guidance Would Improve Federal Efforts.”
The gist of the report was that the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) was to coordinate information among Federal agencies to assure all are sending the same, transparent messaging regarding these serious illnesses.
The CIAQ comes under the EPA. In Jan 2010, it was decided by midlevel EPA managers that they would not follow the direction of the GAO to assure coordination of info over the matter within Federal agencies.  
 
On Feb 3, 2010, there was a CIAQ teleweb meeting that was accessible to the public. They completely left the topic of mold off of the agenda. No less than 30 people stayed on the phone for over three hours waiting to be heard on the matter and to question why this was. When they were finally allowed to speak, EPA’s Mr. David Rowson – who pulled the plug on the EPA adhering to the direction of the GAO – left the room (4 PM).
 
People spoke of their concerns with the EPA arbitrarily deciding not to follow the recommendations of the GAO, but the EPA did not include their public comments in record of the minutes of the meeting. Nor was it ever explained WHY the EPA decided not to follow the recommendation of the GAO regarding this important health threat.
 
A citizen group, achemmic.com, was formed comprised of physicians, attorneys, advocates for the sick and others, directly because of this blatant disregard for transparency within the EPA over a matter of public health concern.
 
On February 16, 2010, a Letter was sent to the EPA, the GAO and the Senate HELP committee requesting a response and clarification no later than March 18, 2010 of the Federal government’s intent (or not intent) to follow thru on its own recommendation and an explanation of why this situation has occurred. To date no response has been received from the GAO, the EPA or Senate HELP regarding the matter.
 
So here are the two questions:
  
1. What law allows the EPA to exclude public comments and questions from the minutes of a public meeting they held?
 
2. When a citizen group comprised of approximately 50 learned members asks questions of our Federal government regarding irrefutable inconsistencies of among Federal agencies adverse to public health and requests a timely transparent reply; what are the duties of these agencies, EPA & GAO – and Senate HELP Federal legislative committee to respond?
 
Thank you,
Sharon Kramer
Escondido, CA

 

New Action Committee – ACHEMMIC- Urges Transparency in EPA Policy Over Mold & Microbial Contaminants

FEMA Using US Chamber Fraud in Katrina Trailer Litigation; EPA, GAO & Both Isle$ of Congre$$ Turn Blind Eye$

Certain Corporate and Government Interests Have Spent Huge Sums of Money and Resources DENYING THE TRUTH about the HEALTH EFFECTS of TOXIC MOLD

Political Action Committee – National Apartment Association (NAA) files Amicus Brief in mold case (two infant deaths in mold filled apt – Wasatch Prop Mgmt) citing US Chamber/ACOEM ‘litigation defense report’ to disclaim health effects of indoor mold & limit financial risk for industry

“Changes in construction methods have caused US buildings to become perfect petri dishes for mold and bacteria to flourish when water is added. Instead of warning the public and teaching physicians that the buildings were causing illness; in 2003 the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, a think-tank, and a workers comp physician trade organization mass marketed an unscientific nonsequitor to the courts to disclaim the adverse health effects to stave off liability for financial stakeholders of moldy buildings. Although publicly exposed many times over the years, the deceit lingers in US courts to this very day.” Sharon Noonan Kramer

Information on Riverstone Residential, the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, and the owners of Toxic Mold Infested Jefferson Lakes Apartments in Baton Rouge, Louisiana continuing to allow tenants to be exposed to extreme amounts of mold toxins

Toxic Mold Infested Jefferson Lakes Apartments managed by Riverstone Residential

Riverstone Residential Litigation

Mold Inspection Reports

Photos of Mold in Apartment

Attorney Malpractice

About Sharon Kramer

Hi, I'm an advocate for integrity in health marketing and in the courts.
This entry was posted in Environmental Health Threats, Health - Medical - Science, Mold and Politics, Mold Litigation, Toxic Mold, US Chamber of Commerce and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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