Statement by Tom Natan, PhD, Research Director, National Environmental Trust on EPA's Draft State of the Environment Report

6/23/2003

From: Brandon MacGillis of National Environmental Trust, 202-887-8833 or 202-320-9448

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Following is a statement by Tom Natan, PhD, research director, National Environmental Trust, on EPA's Draft State of the Environment Report:

"We've been collecting data about the environment for thirty years, and this is the best we can do? There is nothing new in this report -- and in fact there's even less here than in other reports.

"Governor Whitman's report takes a wealth of data collected since 1970 and says it can't be used to assess the state of the environment because of 'data gaps.' We've known for years that these gaps exist, which is why we need a plan to close them. Unfortunately, this report only highlights the positive in an attempt to downplay expectations for environmental protection from President Bush. The science it does include is old news, better presented by individual EPA and other government agency reports.

"This report is Christie Todd Whitman's attempt on the way out the door to show that the last two years of her life haven't been a total waste - except it doesn't even do that. Administrator Whitman may be able to look at this report and claim that she left 'the air cleaner, the water purer, and the land better protected.' But I doubt she really believes it.