Latest News and Efforts from the Government Accountability ProjectDenver Post covers GAP's Ombudsman hearing
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16 Jan 2003 17:45:00 -0000
Denver Post covers GAP's Ombudsman hearing
News Article
<b><i>Shattuck neighbors miss EPA watchdog,
Old ombudsman quit; new one closed case</b></i>
By Mike Soraghan
<br />Denver Post Washington Bureau
<br />
<br />Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency's watchdog agency isn't watchdogging in Denver anymore.
<br />
<br />The EPA's acting national ombudsman, Peggy Boyer, has closed the case on the Shattuck Superfund site in Denver's Overland Park neighborhood. The previous ombudsman, Robert Martin, had helped force the EPA to remove the radioactive waste it had left at the site.
<br />
<br />Martin resigned in protest last April when EPA Administrator Christie Whitman transferred him and his agency to the control of the EPA's inspector general, without giving him control over his budget or hiring and firing decisions.
<br />
<br />Now, residents of the neighborhood say they don't feel that they have anyone to stick up for them as the EPA begins removal of the 6-acre radioactive "monolith."
<br />
<br />"I don't know where to call," said Deb Sanchez, who lives 300 yards from the site. "This is stuff we would use Bob's office for. He was able to get the information for us."
<br />
<br />Sanchez came to Washington on Tuesday with activists from other Superfund sites around the country to protest Whitman's ombudsman decision and to press for a more independent watchdog operation at the EPA. Several of the activists said they hadn't heard from the ombudsman's office since Martin left.
<br />
<br />The acting ombudsman sent out letters to officials and residents closing the Shattuck case because the result that community residents wanted - removal of the radioactive waste - has begun, said Eileen McMahon spokeswoman for the EPA's inspector general office. She said it's not the ombudsman's job to answer questions for residents.
<br />
<br />"The ombudsman's job is not to monitor and when people have questions, provide answers," McMahon said. "We'd not heard anything from anyone. We assumed satisfaction."
<br />
<br />Martin kept after the Shattuck matter, attacking a settlement that EPA made with Shattuck's owner, Citigroup, as a sweetheart deal for a politically powerful company. He had planned to hold hearings on the method of cleanup at Shattuck, but those were scrapped when Martin quit.
<br />
<br />Martin's chief investigator, Hugh Kaufman, launched investigations of EPA Superfund cleanups in several states that embarrassed his agency and in some cases forced it to reverse decisions. Martin said that made EPA managers in both the Clinton and Bush administrations want to silence him.
<br />
<br />Whitman said she transferred Martin from the EPA's Superfund division to the inspector general's office not to silence him but to give him more independence.
<br />
<br />U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, is one of several senators who are pushing a bill to create a new, independent ombudsman answering to Congress. The bill has not yet been introduced.
<br />
<br />
<br />All contents Copyright 2003 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose.
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Denver Post covers GAP's Ombudsman hearing
News Article
<b><i>Shattuck neighbors miss EPA watchdog,
Old ombudsman quit; new one closed case</b></i>
By Mike Soraghan
<br />Denver Post Washington Bureau
<br />
<br />Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency's watchdog agency isn't watchdogging in Denver anymore.
<br />
<br />The EPA's acting national ombudsman, Peggy Boyer, has closed the case on the Shattuck Superfund site in Denver's Overland Park neighborhood. The previous ombudsman, Robert Martin, had helped force the EPA to remove the radioactive waste it had left at the site.
<br />
<br />Martin resigned in protest last April when EPA Administrator Christie Whitman transferred him and his agency to the control of the EPA's inspector general, without giving him control over his budget or hiring and firing decisions.
<br />
<br />Now, residents of the neighborhood say they don't feel that they have anyone to stick up for them as the EPA begins removal of the 6-acre radioactive "monolith."
<br />
<br />"I don't know where to call," said Deb Sanchez, who lives 300 yards from the site. "This is stuff we would use Bob's office for. He was able to get the information for us."
<br />
<br />Sanchez came to Washington on Tuesday with activists from other Superfund sites around the country to protest Whitman's ombudsman decision and to press for a more independent watchdog operation at the EPA. Several of the activists said they hadn't heard from the ombudsman's office since Martin left.
<br />
<br />The acting ombudsman sent out letters to officials and residents closing the Shattuck case because the result that community residents wanted - removal of the radioactive waste - has begun, said Eileen McMahon spokeswoman for the EPA's inspector general office. She said it's not the ombudsman's job to answer questions for residents.
<br />
<br />"The ombudsman's job is not to monitor and when people have questions, provide answers," McMahon said. "We'd not heard anything from anyone. We assumed satisfaction."
<br />
<br />Martin kept after the Shattuck matter, attacking a settlement that EPA made with Shattuck's owner, Citigroup, as a sweetheart deal for a politically powerful company. He had planned to hold hearings on the method of cleanup at Shattuck, but those were scrapped when Martin quit.
<br />
<br />Martin's chief investigator, Hugh Kaufman, launched investigations of EPA Superfund cleanups in several states that embarrassed his agency and in some cases forced it to reverse decisions. Martin said that made EPA managers in both the Clinton and Bush administrations want to silence him.
<br />
<br />Whitman said she transferred Martin from the EPA's Superfund division to the inspector general's office not to silence him but to give him more independence.
<br />
<br />U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, is one of several senators who are pushing a bill to create a new, independent ombudsman answering to Congress. The bill has not yet been introduced.
<br />
<br />
<br />All contents Copyright 2003 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose.
<br />
If you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please send an email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line. To one of the addresses below.
If you are recieving these emails from <a href=mailto:gap-general-list-request@whistleblower.org>gap-general-list@whistleblower.org</a>
If you are recieving these emails from <a href=mailto:gap-media-request@whistleblower.org>gap-media-list@whistleblower.org</a>