Ooops, EPA 'Accidentally' Releases Farmers Personal Data to Foes

EPA acknowledges releasing personal details on farmers

The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged Tuesday that it released personal information on potentially thousands of farmers and ranchers to environmental groups, following concerns from congressional Republicans and agriculture groups that the release could endanger their safety.

Hmm, you wonder what prompted them to release the data to the environmental groups; it's almost as if the EPA works for environmental groups instead of the citizens of the country.

According to a document obtained by FoxNews.com, the EPA said “some of the personal information that could have been protected … was released." Though the EPA has already sent out the documents, the agency now says it has since redacted sensitive details and asked the environmental groups to “return the information.”

Yeah, I'm sure that will happen.  Digits, once stored, rarely get erased.  I'm sure the Sierra Club will be happy to permit the farmers to search all their hard drives and filing cabinets to make sure the data is eradicated.

But Sen. John Thune, who originally complained about the release, slammed the EPA for trying to retroactively recover the sensitive data.

"It is inexcusable for the EPA to release the personal information of American families and then call for it back, knowing full well that the erroneously released information will never be fully returned," he said in a statement to FoxNews.com. "While EPA acknowledging that it erred is a first step, more must be done to protect the personal information of our farmers and ranchers now and in the future. I will continue to demand answers from the EPA on how this information was collected and why it is still being distributed to extreme environmental groups to the detriment of our farm and ranch families."

A really big suite would get their attention.  I suggest suing the NGOs, since the EPA will be pretty hard to target.

And people wonder why gun enthusiasts resist background checks and registration.