GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNED

[Paul Cherubini]

Bob Parcelles,Jr. wrote:
> 
> GREETINGS:
> 
> There has been a lot of apologists etc. for the firing
> of Ian Thomas.  Here are the facts.

Here's what a:USGS Public Affairs Officer has to say:

Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 19:10:49 -0500
To: ECOLOG-L at UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: USGS response about Ian Thomas and ANWR data

I read with dismay your comments regarding the recent LA Times article.

Mr. Thomas was not a Federal employee, thus could not have been fired by
the U.S. Geological Survey.  The contract "task order" that USGS had with
his employing company was cancelled.  USGS has not been advised of Mr.
Thomas' status with his company.

The task order -- which was clearly defined and primarily for geographic
information systems work on "the ecology and population dynamics of
migratory birds" -- was cancelled because the contractor was operating
outside the scope of the contract. In working on large mammal species such
as caribou, African mammals and tigers, the contractor exceeded the scope
of the task order and was in violation of Federal contracting regulations.

In addition, in direct conflict with the clearly understood standard
operating procedures of the USGS and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center,
Mr. Thomas did not have his products scientifically reviewed or approved by
the Research Program before posting them on our Federal website.  As a
result, not only did material that was inappropriate to USGS' Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center get posted on their website, but the USGS could
not guarantee the scientific integrity of the material.

The resolution of the matter concerning the activities of the contractor
was handled internally by USGS contracting officers without any involvement
from the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.  In addition, there has
been no official guidance from the Secretary affecting the release of
information to the public about any aspects of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge.  The U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
other Interior agencies have continued to provide information about ANWR
studies to Congress, reporters and other interested parties as requested,
with the full support of Interior officials.

Because there is high interest in this subject, these allegations make
great reading. In this case, however, there is little of fact, but mostly
fiction.  This is a caution to us all to always check the facts of a story
before leaping to conclusions.

Trudy Harlow
USGS Public Affairs Officer
"Trudy P Harlow" <tharlow at usgs.gov>

 
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