The Working Group was originally formed to monitor the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. A handful of organizations, including OMB Watch, were part of the formation. It was originally housed at the Environmental Policy Institute and focused on emergency planning by Local Emergency Planning Committees established by the law. As it moved to a new home at the U.S. PIRG, the community right-to-know portion of the law became a top subject.

Today, the Working Group serves a nationwide network of organizations and individuals whose right-to-know advocacy makes government responsive, holds corporations accountable, empowers communities, and protects public health and the environment.

On Jan. 3, 2005 the Working Group was transformed from a stand-alone entity to a project of OMB Watch to increase its capacity to conduct outreach to state and local groups whose voices are too often not heard by lawmakers, agencies or even national public interest groups. Its new focus is to aggressively provide information and support to state and local groups that oppose information restrictions.

The Working Group publishes an electronic newsletter, “Working Notes eUpdate.” You can sign up for the Working Group’s short monthly electronic newsletter to read about new fact sheets, tools and resources and connect with others using right-to-know information.

Visit www.crtk.org for more information on the Working Group, or contact George Sorvalis, the primary staff member at (202) 234-8494.