EPA to reopen area library amid controversy

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chicago research library will re-open next month, 17 months after it shut down.

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Federal budget cuts closed the Chicago library, regional libraries in Dallas and Kansas City, Kan., the national headquarters library in Washington, D.C., and a specialist chemical and pesticide library, also in Washington. Hours were reduced at four other regional libraries, leaving only three regional libraries without a cut in service.“We’ve called what’s gone on here sort of a self-lobotomy,” said Jeff Ruch, executive director of the non-profit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. He
is the founder of the group and a former California state government employee.

“Overall information is far less available to the public and to EPA’s own staff. There’s a lot less information and what’s there is a lot less accessible,” he said.

Recently, Congress approved an appropriations bill re-funding the library system.