NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Committee Urges Acting Inspector General to Halt Premature Closure of Regional Offices

Washington, D.C. – Leading Democratic and Republican Members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce sent a letter today to Bill A. Roderick, Acting Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging him to stop employee buyouts and regional office closures without Congressional approval. The letter, signed by Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell (D-MI), Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO), Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials Chairman Albert R. Wynn (D-MD), Subcommittee Ranking Member John Shimkus (R-IL), and Subcommittee Vice Chair Hilda L. Solis (D-CA), questions actions taken by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to implement the President’s proposed Fiscal Year 2008 budget prior to Congressional consideration.

Four days after the President submitted the February 5, 2007 budget request, Roderick informed OIG employees that it was “very likely” that the EPA would shut down facilities and reduce the workforce. On March 15, he opened buyout offers to OIG employees which would require employees to leave the Agency as soon as April 30, 2007.

Read the letter

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