SkyTruth continuing to protect the environment from remote offices.

Dear friends, partners and supporters: the staff, board and I wish all of you as much kindness, strength, good health, and good cheer as these difficult times allow. In case you were wondering, I can assure you that SkyTruth is well equipped to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances. We’re in a good financial position. Our staff and contractors are comfortable with, and experienced at, working as a distributed team: we have well-tested tools to facilitate remote work and data sharing, and a rigorous schedule for communications to keep everyone in touch and on track. To help slow the spread of coronavirus during this critical window of opportunity to “flatten the curve,” we closed our Shepherdstown office three weeks ago, and all staff are working from home until further notice.

I’m convinced the need for our work is even greater during this crisis: the White House assault on the environment continues at a breakneck pace. Despite the staff shortages and chaos resulting from the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, and other Federal agencies are under pressure to continue rolling back regulations that were put in place to protect human health and the environment. And the EPA just announced a “sweeping relaxation” of pollution reporting requirements for power plants, oil refineries, and other industrial sites, leaving the public in the dark about the ongoing leaks, spills and other toxic incidents happening at facilities that are often located right next door.

This tunnel we’re in may be long, but there will be an end to it. That’s why SkyTruth will continue to shine a light on the way our lands and waters are being managed, to support effective public participation in government decision making, and to inspire better protection of the environment that we need — now and in the future — to heal and sustain us.

As always, feel free to contact me if you’d like to give me some feedback or learn more about how we’re weathering this storm. I would love to hear from you.  – John