EPA Privatized — EPA Head To Farm Out Watchdog Duties

WASHINGTON, D.C. The acting Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency circulated an internal memo calling for the privatization of its auditing powers.

This memo dated June 4, 2007, was released by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

In it, Inspector General Bill Roderick told his staff that starting next fiscal year in October, his office will contract out financial audits and reviews of information security.

Also, current audits will reduce in favor of a risk assessment and evaluation program advocated by the Office of Management & Budget, the memo stated.

At the same time, the agency will discontinue operations involving air and water pollution management.

PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch questioned the wisdom of the IG’s plans for reorganizing the regulatory agency in light of past mismanagement.

“Oversight of EPA should not be put out for bid on eBay,” quipped Ruch. “The next time EPA loses a laptop with sensitive information on it all of the expertise within the IG on information security will be gone, replaced by private consultants.”

The last IG Nikki Tinsley resigned last year with a reputation for independence. The White House has not named a replacement after withdrawing its nomination of the controversial Alex Beehler, a Defense Department official.

As the acting IG, Roderick has pursued this reorganization without considering Congress.