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涉官商勾結 美內政部官員下臺

2007年05月04日
摘譯自2007年5月1日ENS美國,華府報導;蔡秦怡編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美國大松雞(圖片來源:Utah DWR)因涉及利用其權勢操縱政府科學家的工作,美國內政部一高級官員已於4月30日辭職下台,這個結果讓環保人士與科學家們大表讚賞。但同時他們也警告,政治力干預聯邦機構科學家的工作,是無法單靠一個官員的下台而獲得解決。

麥當諾(Julie MacDonald)辭去內政部魚類、野生動物與公園事務副助理部長一職(修正註),其任內掌管了美國魚類暨野生動物管理局(USFWS)的瀕絕物種計劃。在內政部督察長戴文尼(Earl Devaney)於3月29日發現麥當諾將「非公開資訊」透漏給企業派來的遊說者,此舉違反了聯邦倫理規範,麥當諾因而下臺。麥當諾多次將魚類暨野生動物管理局內部文件洩漏給反對此機構,以及反對法院裁定之環保決議的企業團體。企業團體得以在後續提出的訴訟案當中,將部分文件內容作為證據,以反對魚類暨野生動物管理局的行動。

麥當諾並且將瀕絕物種法申請的初步研究以及預先討論的結果,寄給加州農務局聯盟(California Farm Bureau Federation)、太平洋法律基金會(Pacific Legal Foundation)、2個雪佛龍(Chevron)石油公司內部人員,以及一名線上角色扮演遊戲合夥人的父親(修正註),這些人並沒有合法正當的理由能夠取得內政部內部相關紀錄。

Reign of Bush Fish and Wildlife Official Ends in Disgrace
WASHINGTON, DC, May 1, 2007 (ENS)

Monday's resignation of a high-ranking Interior Department official who manipulated the work of government scientists was applauded today by environmentalists and scientists, but they cautioned that this single resignation does not solve the problem of political interference with the work of scientists at federal agencies.

Julie MacDonald left her position as the Department of Interior’s deputy assistant secretary of fish, wildlife and parks, from which she controlled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species program.

Her resignation follows a finding March 29 by the agency's Inspector General Earl Devaney that she violated federal ethics rules by sending "nonpublic information" to industry lobbyists.

MacDonald repeatedly leaked internal Fish and Wildlife Service documents to business groups who opposed the Service and its environmental decision making in court. Some of these internal documents later surfaced as evidence in lawsuits filed against the Service.

She sent draft studies and preliminary discussions about application of the Endangered Species Act to the California Farm Bureau Federation and the Pacific Legal Foundation; to two people with e-mail addresses at Chevron; and to the father of an online role-playing game partner, who had no legitimate reason for access to internal Interior Department records.

全文及圖片詳見 ENS報導

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.