National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

[Guest guest]

Forwarded from the Duke ListServ

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) today

announced it will continue to publish the scientific journal

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Last fall, NIEHS Director

Schwartz proposed to privatize the monthly publication, but more than

300 individuals and organizations protested the move, which they said

would have compromised the independence of the journal, one of the most

highly respected peer-reviewed publications of its kind in the country.

-----Original Message-----

From: niehs-newslist-bounces@...

Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:06 PM

June 28, 2006

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to inform you that the National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will continue to publish the

scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

According to Journal Citation Reports, EHP is now the top ranking

journal among 134 Environmental Sciences journals, and top among 93

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health journals. EHP's impact

factor increased from 3.92 to 5.34 in just one year from 2004 to 2005.

As we move forward in publishing EHP, the NIEHS will build upon those

principles that have earned the journal a strong reputation and

dedicated readership: open access, independent scientific peer-review,

and effective oversight for conflict-of-interest.

In addition, the NIEHS will take some specific steps to further enhance

the scientific quality of EHP and to reduce production costs during

difficult budgetary times. Those steps include:

* Identifying a scientist outside NIEHS to serve as Editor-in-Chief,

* Dedicating more of the journal to scientific manuscripts, and

reducing the news, commentary and announcement sections,

* Utilizing improved technologies to facilitate the scientific

peer-review process and journal production, and

* Continuing partnerships with international scientific journals,

while discontinuing translation services.

Our support of EHP is consistent with the goals set out in the new NIEHS

Strategic Plan (available at

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/plan2006/home.htm). We are committed

to communicating high-quality, high-impact science that will assist

biomedical and environmental health researchers with their important

work.

Thank you for your ongoing support of EHP. We hope you will continue to

use the journal as a key scientific resource.

Sincerely,

A. Schwartz, M.D.

Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

and National Toxicology Program

Burkhart, Ph.D.

Acting Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Health Perspectives