| Interior Code of Conduct
June 2, 2003 Folks, I had just returned from a week in British Columbia yesterday when I was called and asked about my reaction to a recently proposed Code of Scientific Conduct just published for Department of the Interior employees. This was admittedly done because of the scandal of several years ago when employees falsified the presence of an animal species (Canada Lynx) that was proposed for Endangered Species Listing. The front page of today’s Washington Times carries an article that quotes me (accurately) on this matter. I commend the article to you and thought you might appreciate my full comments (below) and a copy of the “feel-good” Code and the Press Release heralding it. I especially direct your attention to the “Panel” (in the press release) who put together the “Code” for (our?) Federal employees. So much of what has gone wrong with Federal Endangered Species authority is exposed in the make-up of this “Panel.” This is not a “scientific” or “environmental” matter, it is a matter of lying and cheating government employees and agencies and a Department that cover it up. The purpose of these deceits (mostly hidden and rarely exposed as this was by a retiring employee) was the increase of government power at the expense of state authorities and private property rights. Your tax money was to be used for lynx needlessly, ski resorts, trappers, hunters, public land users, loggers, ranchers, pet owners, and a whole host of others were to be purposely harmed by activist employees fulfilling radical environmental and animal rights agendas – and it was treated like so many other environmental matters; as if it was vegetarian, teenage girls just trying to “do good.” Note too all the “employee participation.” I leave to you the appropriateness of such in matters like this. The opening sentence of this proposed "Code of Conduct" says it all. To wit: "I will act in the interest of the advancement of science and contribute the best, highest quality scientific information for the Department of the Interior." Department of the Interior employees are just that, employees of the Federal government, NOT scientists working for "the advancement of science." Federal employees are already prohibited in existing regulations from lying, cheating, or stealing while in the performance of their duties. There was, and is, all the necessary Civil Service regulations necessary to punish any employees (be they scientists, contracting officers, or secretaries) who falsify documents, reports, or other products of their government employment duties. This Code of Scientific Conduct is merely window dressing to create the illusion of government concern when in fact the lynx hair study falsification was never properly publicized and the perpetrators were never disciplined. The message was that government employees will and can cover for each other and citizen redress for abuses of the Endangered Species Act is merely a figment in Civics classes. Neither Courts or Federal appointee managers will insure integrity or simple standards of performance when "science" or some other "high purpose" like some Federal environmental radical employee implementing their own agenda is involved. So, just as Interior tried to cover up the Teapot Dome scandal in the 20s and the State Department tried to cover up communist sympathizers in the 40s and 50s; today's Interior Department tries to mask their failure to publicly renounce environmental activism masquerading as Endangered Species mandates. First, they never publicly explained what went on. Second, they never clarified who did what and what was done about it. Third, they wait for it to quiet down (knowing that it will, thanks to environmental NGO's, Federal employee environmental associations, and sympathetic press and congressional staffers.) Fourth, they issue this meaningless (since employees are disciplined or fired based on specific regulations – NOT CODES), feel & sound-good nonsense to assure that some voters next fall will remember them as "concerned" about both science and the environment. Secretary Norton has with this, as in other things such as Endangered Species Act reform, tried to have it both ways. Instead of reforming the Endangered Species Act she works to "make it better." Instead of airing the whole lynx business and sending a message to Federal employees with radical agendas, she opts for "study" and voila! A new "Code of Scientific Conduct" that is meaningless in fact but hopefully done in such a way so as to "fool some of the people some of the time" as in election time. THE CODE OF SCIENTIFIC CONDUCT To the best of my ability: I will act in the interest of the advancement of science and contribute the best, highest quality scientific information for the Department of the Interior. I will conduct, manage, judge, report, and communicate scientific activities and information honestly, thoroughly and without conflict of interest. I will be responsible for the resources entrusted to me, including equipment, employees' time, and funds. I will be accountable for the prompt and accurate collection, use, and reporting of all financial resources and transactions under my control. I will disclose the research methods to the local communities, Indian tribes, and other individuals whose interest and resource uses are studied; and respect the confidential and proprietary information provided by those individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law. I will neither hinder the scientific and information gathering activities of others nor engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or other scientific, research or professional misconduct. I will welcome constructive criticism of my scientific activities and information, participate in appropriate peer reviews, and critique others' work in a respectful manner amid objective scientific review. I will be diligent in the creation, use, preservation, and maintenance of collections and data records; adhere to established quality assurance and quality control programs; follow the records retention policies of the Department; and comply with Federal law and established agreements related to the use, security, and release of confidential and proprietary data. I will know, understand and adhere to standards of public information dissemination and the formal publication of scientific information and respect the intellectual property rights of others. I will be responsible in all scientific activities for both the collection and interpretation of data I collect and the integrity of conclusions I present. I will place quality and objectivity of scientific activities and information ahead of personal gain or allegiance to individuals or organizations. |