Nevada Press Association The best in Nevada journalism since 1924
The Nevada Press Association today joined the Public Notice Resource Center and 42 other organizations in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to continue notifying the public of important information through newspapers.
PNRC filed comments asking EPA not to deprive the public of newspaper notices relating to the approval of permits under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is considering notifying the public about CAA permits only on a government website.
PNRC was joined in the comments by the 43 other organizations representing newspapers and journalists that are listed below.
On Dec. 29, EPA announced its intention to reduce the public notice it currently provides in connection with most CAA actions by eliminating the
requirement that the notices run in local newspapers near the potential sources of pollution EPA is planning to approve.
Bradley L. Thompson II, president of PNRC, said:
“If EPA moves forward with this proposal, it will increase the likelihood that the people who stand to feel the greatest impact from its decisions will be left in the dark until it’s too late.”
“The Agency’s determination to inform citizens about its plans by posting notices in obscure corners of its website isn’t sufficiently transparent. It is especially unfortunate when pollsters tell us people are suspicious of Washington. Keeping these notices local in places where readers will find them is a good way to combat public cynicism,” Thompson said.
PNRC’s comments note that EPA based its proposal on the mistaken assumption that citizens affirmatively seek public notices and will regularly visit its
website to learn about its plans. PNRC also notes that for over 200 years lawmakers have required public notices to be published in newspapers because
they offer the best opportunity to reach local, civically engaged readers who are most likely to have a personal interest in the plans and activities
described in the notices.
PNRC is a nonprofit organization that provides research and public education materials on the use of public notice in newspapers. It is supported by
contributions from newspaper organizations throughout the U.S., including members of the American Court and Commercial Newspapers and most state press associations.
For a copy of PNRC’s comments, click this link to download the document.
Signing onto the comments were:
- Alabama Press Association
American Court and Commercial Newspapers
Arizona Newspapers Association
Arkansas Press Association
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Colorado Press Association
Florida Press Association
Georgia Press Association
Hoosier State Press Association
Illinois Press Association
Iowa Newspaper Association
Kansas Press Association
Kentucky Press Association
Louisiana Press Association
Maryland/Delaware/DC Press Association
Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association
Michigan Press Association
Minnesota Newspaper Association
Mississippi Press Association
Missouri Press Association
Montana Newspaper Association
National Newspaper Association
Nebraska Press Association
Nevada Press Association
New Jersey Press Association
New Mexico Press Association
New York News Publishers Association
New York Press Association
Newspaper Association of America
North Dakota Newspaper Association
Ohio Newspaper Association
Oklahoma Press Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association
South Dakota Newspaper Association
Tennessee Press Association
Texas Press Association
Utah Press Association
Vermont Press Association
Virginia Press Association
Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Wisconsin Newspaper Association
Wyoming Press Association
