Shades Of U.S. Attorney Scandal: Top EPA Official Forced Out By Political Appointees
Shades Of U.S. Attorney Scandal: Top EPA Official Forced Out By Political Appointees
The Wonk Room has previously described Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson as “the environment’s Alberto Gonzales.” After years of scandal as White House Counsel and Attorney General, Gonzales finally resigned after it was revealed that numerous U.S. attorneys were fired without cause under his watch.
Now it seems the EPA is following the Department of Justice’s efforts to rid itself of staffers who are not “loyal Bushies.”
The Bush administration forced its top environmental regulator in the Midwest to quit Thursday after months of internal bickering about dioxin contamination downstream from Dow Chemical’s world headquarters in Michigan.
In an interview with the Tribune, Mary Gade said two top political appointees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington stripped her of her powers as regional administrator and told her to quit or be fired by June 1.
As a congressional investigation revealed this week, the EPA’s regulation of toxic chemicals like dioxin has been corrupted by interference by the White House. But this case is even more egregious:
For the past year, Gade has been locked in a heated dispute with Dow about long-delayed plans to clean up dioxin-saturated soil and sediment that extends 50 miles beyond its Midland, Mich., plant into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. [. . .]
Though regional EPA administrators typically have wide latitude to enforce environmental laws, Gade drew fire from officials in Washington last month after she sent contractors to test soil in a Saginaw neighborhood where Dow had found high dioxin levels.
She said top lieutenants to Stephen Johnson, the national EPA administrator, repeatedly questioned her aggressive action against Dow, which long ago acknowledged it is responsible for the dioxin contamination but has resisted federal and state involvement in cleanup plans.
Gade told the Chicago Tribune, “There’s no question this is about Dow.” When Johnson appointed Gade to her position in 2006, he praised “her impressive environmental career,” saying, “Mary is well-prepared to lead the Agency’s largest regional office.”
UPDATE: In 2000, Mary Gade wrote optimistically about environmental policy in a Bush administration:
To the question of politics — or, I hope, the lack thereof. A successful twenty-first-century environmental policy will require a leader who can reach across partisan lines and bridge political differences on what should be the ultimate nonpartisan issue. It also will require a President who recognizes that environmental issues don’t respect national borders and who can credibly address these complex issues on the international stage. I confess, I’m a Republican and a supporter of Texas Governor George W. Bush. I believe Governor Bush in two terms has put together a stronger bipartisan record on conservation and the environment than Al Gore has in twenty-plus years in Washington, D.C., precisely because Bush puts action and results above talk and posture.
UPDATE II: Via Daily Kos user LakeSuperior, Michigan Environmental Council President Lana Pollack calls Mary Gade “woman of unquestioned credentials and integrity who was doing her job enforcing our environmental laws”:
If Mary Gade were indeed forced out because she was willing to enforce environmental laws against Dow Chemical, then it is a travesty.
8 Responses to “Shades Of U.S. Attorney Scandal: Top EPA Official Forced Out By Political Appointees”
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The presence of Dioxin in the environment is an absolute CRISIS! One small example of this issue:
“I… the Endometriosis Association [has] found that 79% of a group of monkeys developed endometriosis after exposure to dioxin in their food during a research study…”
The severity of endometriosis… …was directly related to the amount of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin – the most toxic dioxin) to which they had been exposed. Monkeys that were fed dioxin in amounts as small as five parts per trillion developed endometriosis.”
“In addition, the dioxin-exposed monkeys showed immune abnormalities similar to those observed in women with endometriosis.”
As the father of a young woman who contracted this disease, I am appalled that the EPA would not relentlessly pursue the effort to rid the environment of it, and would instead direct this ‘hatchet job’ against a member of its regulatory staff who sought to insure the reduction of this danger.
If your are unfamiliar with this disease, you should understand that “endometriosis is an endocrine and immune disease that affects an estimated 89 million women and girls around the world, regardless of ethnic or social origin. The incidence of allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities in women with endometriosis is higher than in the general population. Women with endometriosis are also at higher risk for autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancers.”
More information about endometriosis and the causal link to dioxin is available from the Endometriosis Association.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:08 pmWow a Reich Winger doing a good job and is concerned about the enviroment, a non-corrupt person in this position is what America needs not these blo-hards lke Johnson who are coorupt and crooked and who snub congress. I would like this matter looked into just like to Attorney General Scandal and really see what laws dubya and Johnson broke that Mary Gade uncovered.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 amThis Dioxin Scandal will not go away; in fact, it’s contamination has ruined the lives and will continue to ruin the lives of people exposed to it for generations.
The interference by the White House is criminal. It’s time to begin impeachment proceedings – there’s nothing left to do with this level of criminal behavior except that.
Let’s get on with impeachment, you spineless sycophants in Congress!
May 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pmWith each passing scandal and the knowledge that everything that’s criminal or illegal has BushCheney’s fingerprints all over it, this horrendous tacit approval wrought by the ignorance of Congress, simply emboldens this enemy within.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pmPeople – we’re getting what we’re asking for. He should have been impeached two years ago. Closing our eyes, holding our breath and counting the days till he’s waving ta-ta isn’t going to save this country from the self-destruction within.
We need to begin our own recovery by “doing the next right thing” – which is impeachment.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pmTacit permission emboldens the audacity of these thugs and that’s what our ignorance and the spinelessness of our representatives is doing: giving away the power of the people each and every day that they are permitted to remain in office.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pmINVESTIGATE – IMPEACH – IMPRISON – The three simple words will elevate our reputation in the eyes of the world and the american people. Is anyone listening in Congress??
May 4th, 2008 at 6:45 pmescitalopram
April 14th, 2009 at 10:02 am