EPA limits staff from talking
WASHINGTON (AP) - July 28, 2008 The June 16 e-mail tells 11 managers in the EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, the branch of the agency
charged with making sure environmental laws are followed, to remind
staff to keep quiet.
"If you are contacted directly by the IG's office or GAO
requesting information of any kind ... please do not respond to
questions or make any statements," reads the e-mail sent by Robbi
Farrell, the division's chief of staff. Instead, staff should
forward inquires to a designated representative.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility obtained the
e-mail and provided it to the AP. The group is a nonprofit alliance
of local, state and federal professionals dedicated to upholding
environmental laws and values.
Jeff Ruch, its executive director, said Monday that the e-mail
reinforces the "bunker mentality" within EPA under the Bush
administration.
"The clear intention behind this move is to chill the cubicles
by suppressing any uncontrolled information," said Ruch.
The EPA, in an official statement, said Monday that the e-mail
was aimed at making responses to the press, GAO and Inspector
General more efficient, consistent and coordinated. The EPA said
officials would still be allowed to talk after they checked in with
representatives.
"There is nothing...that restricts conversation between
enforcement staff, the press, GAO and the IG and the procedure is
consistent with existing agency policies," the statement said.
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On the Net:
http://www.peer.org/docs/epa/08-28-7-gag-order.pdf
