Winter 1999

POGO Fights See-No-Evil Environment

Congress to Face Decision On Uranium-Contaminated Drinking Water

An end to the contamination of the Colorado River -- a major source of drinking water for 20 million people living in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona -- may be near. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Bob Filner (D-CA) will propose moving oversight of the now defunct Atlas Corporation - owned uranium mill tailings pile from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the Department of Energy (which has moved sites posing far less environmental impact). This move is intended to achieve relocation of the unlined uranium tailings pile from the banks of the Colorado River in Moab, Utah to a safer location.

The NRC is currently leaning towards accepting Atlas' proposed alternative of capping the site, claiming not to have the authority to require the move. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service, however, all support moving the pile because of the impact, not only on drinking water, but also on two endangered species of fish. Look for POGO's report soon.

Expect More $7600 Coffee Pots . . .

President Clinton's recent announcement that he will recommend a $110 billion hike in the defense budget over the next six years was predictable. A major clue came when the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reversed course and argued in September that readiness has deteriorated dangerously. Yet, as recently as February 1998, JCS Chair General Henry Shelton stated, "We are within an acceptable band of readiness and risk."

If there are readiness problems, they are due not to a lack of funds, but to years of mismanagement by the Pentagon, including the JCS. The JCS approves each military budget, and has allocated funding to unneeded and excessively expensive leftover Cold War weapons year after year.

The Administration's new script is particularly troubling as it comes at a time when its "acquisition reform" campaign is dismantling audit and oversight provisions established in response to spare parts horror stories POGO exposed in the ‘80s. Last year, POGO also exposed the re-emergence of these horror stories with the Pentagon's $76 screw. In the new "see-no-evil" environment, POGO fears we will be seeing more of the same. Check POGO's website to keep up- to-date on the latest information.

Navy Fighter: More Bucks, Less Bang

Extremely late in its development, the $46-billion-plus new version of the F-18 Navy fighter-bomber has a crucial flight flaw -- the plane tilts unpredictably while in flight.

In order to rush the plane through approval processes, the Navy claimed that the radically new E/F version was a simple modification of earlier F-18s, despite many completely new elements. As a result, the new plane was subject to less stringent testing and review than would normally be required.

Despite lax review, the Navy may have failed to fully inform senior Pentagon officials about the seriousness of the defect - hoping to win approval at a key review stage.

Perhaps even more serious than the flight flaw is that the F-18 E/F will cost at least 50% more than the previous version, yet has minimal performance or capability improvements - and in several specifications has poorer performance than earlier versions.The Navy has responded by loosening requirements.

This is another case of bypassing useful procedures - setting and maintaining requirements - in order to save a questionable program. Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) has asked the Pentagon's Inspector General to review this procurement failure.

Defense Contractors on Rampage

Defense contractors have targeted two remaining protections of the public purse - the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, and the False Claims Act.

Under pressure from Pentagon Acquisition Chief Jacques Gansler's office and the defense industry, OMB is making a variety of bureaucratic changes that will weaken the Board and its staff. Additionally, the Pentagon is planning to ask for the authority to exempt any contract or contractor it wishes from CAS Standards.

Gansler's office has also prepared a report detailing the defense industry's opposition to the highly-effective False Claims Act (FCA), and why they would like to be exempt from this law.

POGO sources tell us the defense industry is planning to use last year's road map created by the hospitals and health insurance companies to gain exemption from the FCA. Last year's anti-FCA effort was foiled by a coalition of public interest groups and unions (of which POGO was an active member).

Oil Battle Drags On

During the recent budget battle, the "Oil Rule" remained one of the last five points of contention. The Rule would make it easier for the Department of Interior (DOI) to detect royalty underpayment for crude oil production on public and Indian lands.

Old POGO friends have been pleasantly surprised to see that what began as an obscure investigation started by POGO over five years ago rose to this level of attention. Unfortunately, in the end, the oil lobby succeeded in obtaining an eight month further delay in implementation of the Rule -- until June 1999.

The coalition fighting the oil lobby along with POGO has grown significantly. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), George Miller (D- CA), and Senator Barbara Boxer(D-CA) worked overtime attempting to get the Rule implemented during the last Congress.

Taxpayers for Common Sense and U.S. PIRG have also been particularly active in working to stop this corporate subsidy -- along with other consumer and environmental groups, unions, Native American tribes, education and historic preservation organizations.

DOI Secretary Babbitt has made it clear that he is also going to make this issue a priority in the New Year.

Whistleblower To Be On FAA Task Force

In October 1998, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an action plan on the aging of aircraft components, particularly wiring. This plan incorporated several recommendations proposed in POGO's May report, "Tripwired?" An indication of the FAA's seriousness in tackling this issue is the planned appointment ofveteran aircraft wiring whistleblower Ed Block to a Task Force that will review aging aircraft wiring. Mr. Block was a major source of information for POGO's report.

The FAA should be lauded for including a whistleblower on their Task Force. In addition, they should broaden the scope of their review to include brand new wiring, also found to be faulty. This should include replacing out-of-date specifications for new wiring.

EPA Ombudsman Robert J. Martin Presented with POGO's 1998
"Beyond the Headlines" Award

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Representatives Steve Horn (D-NY), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), George Miller (D-CA), and James Talent (R-MO), sponsored POGO's December reception honoring Environmental Protection Agency National Ombudsman Robert J. Martin.

Citizen activists Marta Salinas and Sandra Jaquith gave moving accounts of their communities' experiences with Martin. Both described the remarkable success Martin has had in resolving longstanding standoffs between the communities, polluting companies and government agencies, while strengthening environmental protections. It was an example of government at its best.

POGO NEWS

After five years of dedicated service, Senior Research Associate Scott Amey has left POGO to go on to law school.

In other news, Nicole Harkin and Beth Daley are joining the POGO team. Nicole will use her experience working for Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Chicago's Better Government Association (BGA) as POGO's new Reasearch Associate.

Outreach will be Beth's focus as POGO's Director of Public Affairs. Beth has previously been the Acting Director of the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy and Outreach Director at HALT, a civil justice reform organization.



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updated:Monday, November 10, 2003