An EPA employee pointed out that all Web sites are vulnerable and asked what the public should do when it is denied electronic access, especially when a deadline is looming. For example, there should be an inventory of facilities operating under expired industrial water pollution permits. Digital Divide Issues Nearby libraries and Internet access are not valid assumptions for Native Americans, but EPA is thanked or recognizing the problem. Government Web sites have become too glitzy and too difficult for older computers to load. Plain old HTML and 56k modems should be viewed as an appropriate user standard.
Rural phones make for slower connections.
Internet Improvements Listserves should notify stakeholders of documents, events and links to state and local agencies. Chat rooms are another useful mechanism. Human assistance will always be necessary to help the public. EPA should provide online data on enforcement history and inspections, and it should build tools that display trends over time. Searching EPA's web site for a specific publication is too often hit or miss.