An academic librarian cautioned that even with unbiased sources we must ask where did they get their information. Another librarian suggests that EPA should post materials on state listserves. Since 1997 the University at Buffalo has been providing government document and pamphlets on line. The site is useful as a source of general information on popular topics and the Government Printing Office is looking at it as a possible model. She also points out that EPA suffers from many conflicting statutory mandates when it comes to releasing information.
Funding is also a problem.
This participant was also skeptical that the agency would routinely release draft documents on the Web, especially given that private research services provide these materials to the business community. This material used to be posted on the net but now the agency makes the public submit FOIA requests for hourly exceedances and violations of the national ambient air quality standards. She thinks this is going the wrong way.