WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 24, 2010 — In response to a report released yesterday by the Department of Commerce Inspector General, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, the Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard called today for the immediate termination of any employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office for Law Enforcement or Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation (GCEL) found to have engaged in egregious abusive practices against fishermen and other fishing industry members. The report detailed multiple allegations against a “senior GCEL attorney in the Northeast region."
“For centuries, fishermen have been the backbone of our coastal communities, and the Inspector General’s findings of bias against them by some enforcement personnel in the northeast region are appalling,” Senator Snowe said. “On multiple occasions, the NOAA Administrator has reassured me of her commitment to ‘rebuild the climate of trust’ between industry members and regulators in New England, yet allowing individuals with a documented history of bias against fishermen and egregious abuses of power to remain on the payroll would run completely counter to that goal. I fully expect that the individual cited in yesterday’s report, and any other personnel found to have engaged in these actions will immediately be removed from their positions.”
Senator Snowe continued, “Furthermore, I find it extremely disturbing that NOAA’s former head of Fisheries Law Enforcement, who was ‘reassigned’ on April 8th – nearly six months ago – remains on the payroll today pending resolution of his case. While there certainly are protocols that must be adhered to, there is no doubt that this individual’s actions, including the shredding of case files while under investigation by the Inspector General, merit termination of his tenure with the agency, not what amounts to a six month paid vacation at taxpayers’ expense.”
Senator Snowe also reiterated her appreciation for steps taken yesterday by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in response to the Inspector General’s report, specifically his move to appoint a “Special Master,” Judge Charles B. Swartwood, III, to reopen cases against fishermen found by the Inspector General to have been tainted by improper action on the part of NOAA.
“This swift action by Secretary Locke to reexamine the fines and penalties levied against fishermen by agents acting outside the bounds of appropriate authority is welcome news, and I look forward to the equally quick resolution of the rest of these long-festering complaints,” added Senator Snowe.
Secretary Locke credited Senator Snowe and some of her colleagues in the New England delegation for “keeping these issues at the forefront,” and he will be meeting with fishermen in New England on Monday to discuss their enforcement concerns in person.