From his first day about a year ago, Mr. Kempthorne
has stressed the importance of ethical behavior. He recently sent all employees
a plan to transform his agency into what he called “a model of an ethical
workplace” — including more ethics lawyers, stronger disciplinary procedures
and new restrictions on meetings with lobbyists.
This is good, but not enough. Almost no
attention is paid to the most fundamental ethical failure of the Norton regime:
the willingness to censor or tailor scientific findings to suit the ideological
objectives of the White House and the wishes of industry and other special
interests. Mr. Griles was among the worst offenders, carrying water for oil,
gas, mining and grazing interests. But there were others.
The department’s inspector general found
that Julie A. MacDonald, a deputy assistant secretary, ran roughshod over
scientists whose findings on behalf of certain endangered species annoyed
commercial interests. Ms. MacDonald, who has since resigned, was also accused
of sending internal agency documents to industry lobbyists.
Paul Hoffman, a deputy assistant secretary
with strong ties to Vice President Dick Cheney, demanded the lifting of
restrictions on commercial activity in the national parks, including
snowmobiles, despite warnings from agency scientists that doing so would expose
the parks to environmental harm.
Congress has taken note. Alarmed by
reports that Mr. Cheney intervened in efforts to save fish species in Oregon’s
Klamath River Basin, Nick Rahall, the chairman of the House Natural Resources
Committee, is resuming his investigation into the administration’s favoring of
politics over science.
If Mr. Kempthorne is serious about
cleaning up his agency, this deserves his attention as well.