EPA STRIVES TO SCORE STYLE POINTS

[nosmokes]

Oh,this is just great. Now we have a government that's more concerned with style over substance. What. the.hell.
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original-peer

For Immediate Release: June 21, 2007
Contact: Carol Goldberg [phone]

EPA STRIVES TO SCORE STYLE POINTS —

Detailed Style Manual to Aid “Brand Extension” Yet No Plan for Global Warming

Washington, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is unveiling a detailed plan governing the “visual style” for all communications in order to enhance and extend the agency “brand,” according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). A new manual lays out rules governing every aspect of the format for all scientific reports, PowerPoint presentations, podium signs and backdrops as well as promotional items such as mouse pads, pens, mugs and tote bags.

“EPA still lacks a plan to address global warming but has an agenda for how its pocket protectors are supposed to look,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting the agency has been avoiding making decisions affecting greenhouse gases even after a Supreme Court decision affirmed that EPA has authority to act. In addition, EPA has a large and growing list of uncompleted tasks ranging from ozone standards to lead-paint protections. “EPA scientists mightily resent being directed to concern themselves with public imagery rather than public health.”

A new EPA manual for “Visual and Product Standards” will be officially unveiled in July. These standards specify requirements for every aspect of communication products, down to allowable fonts, acceptable color combinations, the size and position of the agency logo, as well as the placement and layout of photos and artwork.

Compliance with these standards will be mandatory, enforced by potential disciplinary action. This imagery blueprint is a component of an agency-wide plan for “brand consolidation extension” to “support an integrated image inside and outside the organization.”

“The notion that a scientist could face discipline for using the wrong font in a PowerPoint presentation or speaking from a podium without an EPA-approved backdrop is just plain nuts,” Ruch added. “God forbid that a scientist employs creativity in a presenting a research paper.”

Agency scientists also object to diversion of funds for image-building efforts at the same time the Bush administration is pursuing cuts in research budgets and is developing plans to shut down laboratories.
At the same time, EPA is spending millions of dollars on a public relations program (called “Science For You”) to enhance the image of its research program. As part of the effort, the agency has surveyed what it considers “influential” news editors on how they regard the quality of EPA work.

EPA claims that its standardization of stylistic details produces costs savings but does not indicate whether any such efficiency is significant or even whether any savings are greater than the time and expense costs of producing an elaborate style manual.

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complete release including links to related sources here

[Duppers]

1. WTF!!! And how 'bout their lax starndard on ground-level ozone

Critics Question EPA's Tighter Ozone Limits

Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:03PM EDT

from Reuters

WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency offered tighter
standards for ozone pollution for the first time since 1997 but critics
said on Thursday the proposal is more lax than what the EPA's own
experts recommended.

The environment agency proposed the new rules for ground-level ozone --
damaging pollution also known as smog that is spawned by motor vehicle
exhaust, power plants, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents -- late on
Wednesday, suggesting an acceptable ozone range of 70 to 75 parts per
billion over any eight-hour period.

That is lower than the current eight-hour standard of 80 parts per
billion but higher than the 60 to 70 parts per billion unanimously
recommended by the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee last
October.

To read more:
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2147415020070621


May be they think their money will save 'em when this planet is inhabitable for humans!

[annabanana]

2. It's always PR and perception with these toads, isn't it.

Image and advertising... "We'll fix it in Marketing"

All hair, no head.