Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Johanns Presses EPA for Answers on Aerial Surveillance

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe on his agency’s lack of transparency in the use of aerial surveillance.
Johanns told Perciasepe that the failure of the EPA to disclose the full, nationwide scope of their aerial surveillance program raises serious questions among agriculture producers and law-abiding citizens, whose private property is subject to these flyovers without notice.
Video of Johanns’ questioning is available HERE.
Johanns wrote former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson last year requesting a full account of the agency’s use of aerial surveillance last year. He also offered an amendment, which received support from a bipartisan majority of Senators, to the Senate-passed farm bill to prohibit EPA from conducting aerial surveillance to inspect or to record images of agricultural operations.
A copy of the letter is available HERE and more information on Johanns’ amendment is available HERE.

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