For Immediate Release
January 19, 2001
Contact: Eric Christensen
703-689-2370

Court Stops EPA From Removing Documents

(Herndon, VA) ... Federal District Judge Royce Lamberth today granted Landmark Legal Foundation's motion for a preliminary injunction against the EPA. The Court ordered that the EPA is enjoined from transporting, removing or in any way tampering with information potentially responsive to Landmark’s September 7, 2000 Freedom of Information Act request."

In its FOIA request, Landmark asked the EPA to produce the names of special interest groups that may have been involved in the preparation of regulations issued by the agency in the final days of the Clinton administration.

Landmark President Mark R. Levin, said, "For 4 ½ months the EPA has attempted to run out the clock and prevent us from learning whether their regulatory process has been hijacked by extreme environmentalists. The EPA’s spate of new regulations represents a virtual wish list from these special interests. The public should know who is behind these efforts and their agenda."

Levin added, "A federal court should not have to order the EPA to do that which it is already obligated to do under the law."

Landmark Vice President and General Counsel Richard P. Hutchison, said, "This order stops cold the EPA’s efforts to remove any more records detailing its actions during the last months of the Clinton administration. The Court is holding EPA officials personally responsible to ensure compliance with its order."