The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will decommission its online web archive by the end of this year, which will eliminate access to tens of thousands of environmental documents. This decision has raised concerns among environmental advocates and researchers about the loss of critical information and its implications for government transparency. The archive has served as an important resource for over 20 years, documenting significant environmental policies and actions. Critics argue that this move could further diminish public trust in the agency.
Key facts
- EPA plans to decommission its online web archive by December 31, 2026.
- The archive has provided access to environmental resources for over 20 years.
- Maintenance costs for the archive were approximately $2 million annually.
- Previous attempts to shut down the archive faced public backlash.
- The archive documented significant environmental policy changes across multiple administrations.
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