EPA Put Gag Order On Staff, E-Mail Shows

Agency Tells Personnel Not To Talk With Investigators, According To Internal Memo Given To AP

(AP)  The Environmental Protection Agency is warning its pollution enforcement officials not to talk directly to congressional investigators, reporters and even the agency's own inspector general, according to an internal e-mail provided to The Associated Press.

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.

[alphaa10-2009]

Bush and his regime of lies continues to its ugly end, with more deception from the EPA.

Perhaps the agency has forgotten its own history.

It was EPA deception about the safety of ground zero for rescue workers that put Christie Whitman and agency integrity on the spot.

Whitman argued later this is what she was told. Those in the field, however, insisted no "all clear" was issued about ground zero conditions.

[babooph]

Nothing to worry about-the propaganda sytem is experienced in wording thing s just right-no problem for the lobbied.

[smurfcrusher]

Well, let''s see... if I was a lying, cheating president regarding environmental issues, would I want to have an open and honest EPA..? Hmmm.... (deep in thought)

[f4ccv]

If you want to build a bridge or build a Walmart in a sensitive area, it is no real problem if yo have enuff money and the "right" politiacal connections.

For example, here in northwest Florda a private company decided it wanted to build a toll bridge across a large bay linking two fragile, low-lying areas.

There was much public sentiment against it. Many dollars and hours of environmental studies, etc. And an EPA agent told me some years later that he had recommended the project not be approved, but the skids were well greased in Tallahassee already.

The Speaker of one of the Houses in Tallahassee just co-incidentally owned the land at BOTH ends of the proposed bridge !!! Which he would "donate" to the project if approved. It was approved. Suddenly the Speaker needed to be paid hansomely for the land-fall properties !!

When the toll bridge earnings fell short, it was propsed that the State of Florida bail out the investors ... with -- you got it -- taxpayers money !!

[f4ccv]

This is policy almost anywhere you go - Police Depts. - Fire Depts all have a PSO (Public Service Officer) that does press releases. They do it to get the right information out

How do you define "the right information" ? What you get -- and only what you get -- is the official version desired to be released by those holding the information and the power to control it.

Great reference point --- Dubya and the WMD and Saddam !!! This is so the status-quo can continue unabated, and uninformed ... in fact, deluded. Shut up, sign up and send money !!!

Clean Water Act of 1974 (CWA 1974)was very effective for a while, but has lost its teeth. Polluters are still at it -- do you have rivers, streams, lakes near you that you cannot swim or eat fish from ? We do. Where is EPA and the Clean Water Act ? Being ignored by multi-billion dollar interests that can afford to bribe politicans at all levels.

The person who mentioned the Ohio river burning is correct. When I worked in water pquality in the late 1970''s, we met 2 old fisherman on the Wisconsin River who remebered times before the CWA 1974 wehn they had to paddle thru a foot of floating sludge before the oar hit water and the odor was nauseous.

These days, who of us are willing to fish or swim down-stream of our sewage treatment plants ?

[javadavid]

A friend who works at the EPA told me a couple years ago that their paychecks had recently changed. They now are paid by the Department of Defense.

[patalbo]

The abomination is the Bush Administration. The EPA is the whipping dog.

[elz523]

When, when, when are we going to GET RID of this ABOMINNATION known as the EPA ? ? ?


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 03:00 PM : Jul 28, 2008


Hello! Come out of the good old says of the 60''s and 70''s when rivers caught fire due to the pollution in them. Today''s world needs the EPA. Deal with it.

[elz523]

This is policy almost anywhere you go - Police Depts. - Fire Depts all have a PSO (Public Service Officer) that does press releases. They do it to get the right information out - The news media needs to give it a rest.


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Posted by netadmin1 at 03:12 PM : Jul 28, 2008

Very true for press releases, but if you read the article they are advising this in regards to investigators. Most definitely not policy in most government offices. This is obstruction of justice. No surprise though. This is the Bush administration.

[redwhtblue2]

Scott McClellan: White House Fed Fox News Talking Points

Author, conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. dies

Jun 14, 2008 ... Tim Russert, NBC News%u2019 Washington bureau chief and the moderator of %u201CMeet the Press,%u201D died Friday of a heart attack

Tony Snow, Former White House Press Secretary and FOX News Anchor, Dies at 53

Robert Novak Brain Tumor Diagnosed

HUM

[yongamerica]

Another illegal attempt to block public information from the public. GW Bush has introduced communist Chinese and corrupt Russian politics to the US. If McCarthy were alive today he''d have blacklisted that Bstard a long time ago.

[rickstas]

This is exactly in keeping with Bush Administration policy. What else would you expect. If it were Clinton, they''d have n investigation.

[lochlan-2009]

#1 issue in U.S. government. STOP THE CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!!!!

[toldyouso12]

This is policy almost anywhere you go - Police Depts. - Fire Depts all have a PSO (Public Service Officer) that does press releases. They do it to get the right information out - The news media needs to give it a rest.

Posted by netadmin1 at 03:12 PM : Jul 28, 2008


There is a different between law enforcement and the EPA. It can actually be viewed as contempt and obstruction of justice to not talk to an investigator---this is not a bunker mentality, it borders on anarchism and traitorous behavior. The government should, cooperate in any investigation--like so many of you say about wire tapping--"those who have nothing to hide should not fear cooperating with the government"

[netadmin1-2009]

"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.

This is policy almost anywhere you go - Police Depts. - Fire Depts all have a PSO (Public Service Officer) that does press releases. They do it to get the right information out - The news media needs to give it a rest.

[ioweign]

And who pays for the EPA???

Hmmmmmmm, I think we can start trimming the budget with this department...

Posted by jtdev1 at 01:29 PM : Jul 28, 2008

That was the Republican intension all along...

[deacon20081]

Is there any part of the government that has not been Politicized by Bush and his pals?
The Justice Dept illegally fires or refuses to hire anyone not "for" Bush and the EPA has been hiding the facts for 8 years of their mismanagment and incompetence. The Republican Hole just gets deeper, sort of like a huge sink hole with no bottom now.

[spargle]

JTDEV1 misses the point - the CAREER staff at EPA want to do the right thing. It is the failed BUSH administration APPOINTEES with their right-wing zealotry that have caused the problems. CAREER staff are threatened with adverse actions if they dare speak the truth.

[impeach__w]

Just do an FIOA request for anything you want to know. They have to give it to you or explain why they can''t. If they don''t respond promptly, THEY HAVE TO PAY YOU.

[jtdev1]

And who pays for the EPA???

Hmmmmmmm, I think we can start trimming the budget with this department...