Miller Letter Questioning the CDC's Investigation of Potential Beryllium Exposure Surrounding the Brush Wellman Facility
April 9, 2008Dr. Julie Gerberding Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry1600 Clifton Road NEAtlanta, Georgia 30333Dear Dr. Gerberding:The Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the House Science and Technology Committee is continuing to investigate the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The Committee’s concerns go well beyond the agency’s indefensible handling of its … Continue Reading
April 02, 2008Lampson Letter to DOE Questioning Changes to FutureGen
April 2, 2008 The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman Secretary of Energy U.S. Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 Dear Secretary Bodman: The Subcommittee is interested in learning how the Department came to so abruptly change direction on how to proceed with the FutureGen project. In fact, it looks as if the project has been fundamentally abandoned in favor of a new, unauthorized approach for which no money has been appropriated. Read the complete letter to Secretary Bodman … Continue Reading
April 02, 2008Letter to CDC Urging Whistleblower Protection and Job Restoration for Dr. De Rosa
April 1, 2008 Dr. Julie Gerberding Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Administration, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1600 Clifton Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Dear Dr. Gerberding: On February 6, 2008, we wrote to you asking you to protect Dr. Chris De Rosa, formerly head of the Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), from retaliation for whistleblowing. … Continue Reading
February 15, 2008Committee Letter to GAO Requesting an Investigation of FutureGen
February 15, 2008 The Honorable David M. Walker Comptroller General of the United States U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G. Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20548 Dear Mr. Walker: On January 31, 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a significant departure from its clean coal initiative, FutureGen. Originally conceived in 2003, FutureGen was touted as a pollution-free power plant of the future intended to showcase cutting-edge technologies to address climate change … Continue Reading
February 13, 2008Gordon Letter to the NRC Urging Them to Reject Bid for Disposal of Foreign Radioactive Waste in the U.S.
February 12, 2008 The Honorable Dale Klein Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike One White Flint North Rockville, Maryland 20852 Dear Chairman Klein: On November 27, 2007, I wrote to you to express my concerns about an application submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by EnergySolutions, Inc., for a license to import 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) … Continue Reading
February 07, 2008Gordon, Miller, Lampson Support Whistleblower and Question ATSDR Actions
February 6, 2008Dr. Julie Gerberding Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry1600 Clifton Road NEAtlanta, GA 30333Dear Dr. Gerberding: The Committee on Science and Technology is reviewing disturbing allegations about interference with the work of government scientists at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Dr. Howard … Continue Reading
February 04, 2008Committee’s Letter to GAO Requesting a Formal Review of NASA’s Air Safety Survey Data
February 4, 2008 David M. Walker Comptroller General Government Accountability Office 441 G Street., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20548 Dear Mr. Walker, In 1997, as a result of recommendations from the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security [1] the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated a program to track aviation safety trends quantitatively; monitor the effects of technological and procedural changes to the National Aviation System and contribute to … Continue Reading
February 01, 2008Gordon Letter to the Executive Director of the Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Questioning the Plan to Import Nuclear Waste
February 1, 2008 Mr. Michael Garner, Executive Director Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Washington State Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, Washington 98504-7600 Dear Mr. Garner: In September of 2007, EnergySolutions filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to import 20,000 tons of radioactive waste from nuclear reactors being decommissioned in Italy. According to that application, the waste would be … Continue Reading
January 28, 2008Miller/Lampson Letter to the Director of the National Center for Environmental Health Regarding ATSDR Testing of Hurricane Katrina/Rita FEMA Trailers
January 28, 2008 Dr. Howard Frumkin Director, National Center for Environmental Health/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1825 Century Blvd. Atlanta, Georgia 30345 Dear Dr. Frumkin: The stated mission of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) "is to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to … Continue Reading
January 28, 2008Miller/Lampson Letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Micheal Chertoff Regarding ATSDR Testing of Hurricane Katrina/Rita FEMA Trailers
January 28, 2008 Michael Chertoff, Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Naval Security Station 3801 Nebraska Ave., N.W.Washington, D.C. 20393 Dear Secretary Chertoff: The Committee has information and documents that lead us to conclude that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ignored, hid and manipulated government research on the potential impact of long-term exposure to formaldehyde on Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita victims now residing in … Continue Reading
November 15, 2007Gordon, Miller, Udall, Costello State the Urgency of Receiving the NAOMS Survey to Administrator Griffin
November 14, 2007 Dr. Michael Griffin Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration 300 E St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 2007 Dear Administrator Griffin: During last week's hearing on aviation safety, you abandoned the prior claim of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that it could not release the safety-related data obtained as part if the National Aviation Operation Monitoring Services (NAOMS) because it would "materially affect the public confidence … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007Gordon, Miller Request All of the Records Relating to Censoring of Climate Science Testimony
Dr. John H. Marburger III, Director Office of Science and Technology Policy 725 17th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20502 Dear Dr. Marburger: In March of 2006, after several allegations of interference by the Administration with conclusions and statements made by federal scienctists in their reports - particularly as they related to climate change - you met with the principal science officials from all the federal agencies and departments. You urged them to adopt media contact policies … Continue Reading
October 22, 2007Gordon, Miller, Udall Direct NASA to Halt any Destruction of Records Relating to the NAOMS Project
October 22, 2007 Dr. Michael Griffin Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration 300 E St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 Dear Administrator Griffin, Recently, the Committee had launched an investigation into aviation safety programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Early last week, Committee investigative staff had a telephone conversation with NASA staff concerning a survey of airline pilots about safety incidents conducted under the National … Continue Reading
July 13, 2007Chairmen Push for Explanation of Controversy at National Hurricane Center
July 12, 2007 The Honorable Conrad C. Lautenbacher Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. Dear Administrator Lautenbacher: In recent weeks, you and the Department of Commerce have taken several controversial steps at the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC), which appear to be in response to public statements by the Center's new director that the failure of your agency to plan for the … Continue Reading
June 14, 2007Miller, Sensenbrenner Call for Investigation of NASA General Counsel
June 14, 2007 Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20530 Dear Mr. Gonzales: By this letter, we are referring to Michael Wholley, the general counsel of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to the Department of Justice for investigation into and possible prosecution for obstruction of justice and destruction of goverment records under 18 U.S.C. § 1505, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) and 18 § U.S.C. … Continue Reading
June 11, 2007Administration Responds to Chairmen's Concern for NASA Funding
June 11, 2007The Honorable Bart GordonUnited States House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515Dear Representative Gordon:We are writing in response to your letter to the President concerning our country’s civil space activities. There is certainly no question that a balanced, robust space program is in the nation’s interest and we appreciate your enthusiasm and support for this effort. The White House has devoted much attention in recent years to the future of America’s space program, and in … Continue Reading
May 31, 2007Miller Continues NASA IG Research, Requesting Interview Documents from PCIE
May 31, 2007 Mr. Clay Johnson III Chairman President's Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency Office of Management and Budget 725 17th St. NW, Room 113 Washington, DC 20503 Dear Mr. Johnson, As part of the Committee's continuing review of the investigation of the President's Executive Councils on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) of allegations against Robert Cobb, inspector general of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), I am requesting additional documents … Continue Reading
May 29, 2007Lampson, Miller Press for More Information in Keeping SREL Open
May 29, 2007 Secretary Samuel Bodman U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Secretary Bodman, On May 16 we wrote to you regarding the decision-making surrounding the reduction in support for the work of the Savannah River Ecology Lab-a reduction so severe it amounts to a decision to close the lab. We asked at that time that you provide direction that funding for the lab continue at a level that would provide minimal support for the lab, its … Continue Reading
May 23, 2007Department of Energy Officials Respond to Chairmen's Request Regarding SREL
The Honorable Brad Miller Chairman, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Committee on Science & Technology U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Your letter of May 16, 2007 requested advice from the Department of Energy (Department or DOE) by May 23, 2007, of the Department's funding plans for the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL or Laboratory), a facility at the Savannah River Site that has been made available for many years by the Department to the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2007Miller, Lampson Express Support for the Savannah River Ecology Lab to Energy Secretary
May 16, 2007 Secretary Samual Bodman U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Secretary Bodman, It has come to the attention of the Subcommittees that the Department intends to end its support for the work of the Savannah River Ecology Lab at the end of May, 2007. We are concerned about the implications this move will have on the research done by this institution. Savannah River Ecology Lab has a half-century of accomplishment and has long enjoyed … Continue Reading