January 12, 2001
The Honorable George W. Bush
Bush-Cheney Presidential Transition Headquarters
1800 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20405
Dear President-Elect Bush:
Our organizations are writing to express dismay and alarm at the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent treatment of its National Hazardous Waste and Superfund Ombudsman Office. The removal of that Office’s sole investigator without the knowledge or consent from the Ombudsman; the current bar on the National Ombudsman to supervise any personnel or other resources; and the newly released draft Ombudsman guidance restricting investigations, demonstrate the lack of discretion and independence allowed that important office.
The very essence of an Ombudsman is to stand apart from the entrenched bureaucracy and to perform independent investigations at the request of elected officials and the public and private sector. Discretion over which cases an Ombudsman looks into is essential for the effectiveness of that office. Should the Ombudsman become subservient to the agency whose work he is meant to investigate, any of his decisions would become suspect thus compromising the legitimacy and integrity of the office.
We ask you to direct the next Administrator to provide a level of resources which the EPA National Ombudsman deems necessary to do his work, including but not limited to the reinstatement of staff, and to ensure that the Office is truly independent from manipulation by EPA management. We trust that, in the name of good government, you will let EPA Administrator-designate Whitman know of your support for this vital office.
Sincerely,
| 20/20 Vision James Wyerman Executive Director |
Alaska Waveriders Mike Macy Director of Public Policy |
| Alberton Community Coalition for Environmental Health Lucinda Hodges Director |
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability Susan Gordon Director |
| American Friends Service Committee Northeast Ohio Office Greg Coleridge Director, Economic Justice & Empowerment Program |
American Lands Alliance Steve Holmer Campaign Coordinator |
| Arrest the Incinerator Remediation (AIR) Vicki Smedley Chair |
Brio Superfund Site Community Group Marie Flickinger Chair |
| Chemical Weapons Working Group Craig Williams Director |
Citizens Advisory Group Mary Mosley Acting Chair |
| Clean Air Council Jeff Tober Board Member |
Clean Air Hotline Dr. Richard H. Osborne Barbara T. Osborne |
| Clean-It! Jack Unruh President |
Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers Darrell Geist Executive Director |
| Common Ground Naomi Schultz Steering Committee |
Concerned Citizens of Lake Township Christine Borello President |
| Cook Inlet Keeper Bob Shavelson |
Don't Waste Arizona Stephen M. Brittle President |
| Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) Craig Minowa Projects Cooridinator |
Friends of the Earth Gawain Kripke Director, Economic Campaigns |
| Glynn Environmental Coalition Bob Drury President |
Government Accountabilty Project Tom Devine Legal Director |
| Grand Canyon Trust Bill Hedden Utah Conservation Director |
Greenpeace Rick Hind Legislative Director, Greenpeace Toxics Campaign |
| GreenWatch USA Bill Smedley President |
Kentucky Environmental Foundation Peter Hille Chair |
| Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation, Inc. Aliki Moncrief Staff Attorney |
Marin Breast Cancer Watch Francine Levien Founder and Executive Director |
| Montana-CHEER Tony Tweedale Project Director |
Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins (M.O.S.E.S.) Phyllis Glazer President and Founder |
| Non-Stockpile Chemical Weapons Coalition Elizabeth Crowe Director |
Ohio Citizen Action Jennifer O'Donnell Akron Area Director |
| Olympic Environmental Council Darlene Schanfald Rayonier Hazardous Waste Project Director |
Overland Neighborhood Environmental Watch Catherine Sandy President |
| Pennsylvania Environmental Network Vicki Smedley President |
PiPaTAG Rose Mary Ammons, Ed.D Vice President |
| Political Ecology Group Sara Zimmerman Board Member |
Project On Government Oversight Danielle Brian Executive Director |
| Protect the Peninsula's Future Eloise Kailin President |
Public Citizen Joan Claybrook President |
| Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Jeff Ruch Executive Director |
Safe Food and Fertilizer Patricia Anne Martin Executive Director |
| Shenandoah County Alliance Against Toxic Sludge, LLC Charlotte Hughes Secretary |
Silver Valley People's Action Coalition Barbara Miller Director |
| Site Specific Advisory Board Rocky Mountain Arsenal Sandra Jaquith Spokesperson |
Take Off Unknowns in Communities (TOXIC) Inese Holte Director of Communications |
| Trans Alaska Gas System Environmental Review Committee Mike Macy Coordinator |
Tri-State Environmental Council Terri Swearingen Executive Director |
| United Parents Against Lead of North Carolina, Inc. Kristin Joyner Director |
Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) Sarah O'Brien Environmental Health Advocate |
| Washington Toxics Coalition Laurie Valeriano Policy Director |
Waste Action Project Greg Wingard Executive Director |
| Waste Not Ellen & Paul Connett Editors |
Working Group on Community Right to Know Lisa Mosca Coordinator |
| Alaska Forum For Environmental Responsibility Ross Coen Executive Director |
Healing Our Mother Earth Marta Salinas |
| The West County Toxics Coalition Dr. Henry Clark |
CC: EPW Committee
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