catch National Park Service GGNRA Superintendent Brian O'Neil in a bundle of lies!

[Omaha Steve]

http://alcatrazunion.com/node/1479

Assemblywoman Ma and Assemblyman Leno catch National Park Service GGNRA Superintendent Brian O'Neil in a bundle of lies!
Submitted by intexile on Sat, 2007-03-31 07:09.

March 27, 2007.

Dear Superintendent Brian O'Neil, National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area:

Thank you for your response to the questions we raised about the environmental, health and safety issues of the new operator of the Alcatraz Ferry Service. We "took your statement about facts being misrepresented very seriously and spent the last month verifying several points that you raised in out offices. After doing so, we remain concerned over the National Park Service's ability to objectively evaluate the safety and environmental performance of the new Alcatraz Ferry Service. Regrettably, your letter did not show us that the National Park Service (NPS) conducted a thorough investigation of the reported sewage incidents. We will continue to ask for independent investigations by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and other enforcement agencies like the US Coast Guard.

In our initial letter, we cited October 13<, 2006> as the date of an alleged sewage spill based on the Ca1/EPA complaint. Your letter disputes the reported October 13 sewage spill at Alcatraz Island by informing us that it was a leak from a saltwater line and not sewage. This claim is supported by the February 7, 2007 statement from Facilities Manager, Mr. Jim Adams. However, there is a discrepancy in the dates between Mr. Adams' statements, which refers October 17 as the date of the saltwater spill, not October 12 as documented in The log by Mr. Cooke right after the incident occurred on October 13 as cited in the Cal/EPA complaint. Your letter also omits any reference to the "Dock Office Log Book" of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (GGNPC) staff which documents sewage spills on October 9 & 12. Mr. Dan Cooke, the GGNPC Educator/Historical Interpreter on Alcatraz Island, documented the October 12, 2006 spill as follows:

"Sewage spill on dock approx 16:30 (4:30 p.m). Alcatraz Cruises Staff hose down area - flush waste into bay."

According to Mr. Cooke, GGNPC staff and NPS did not interview or follow-up with him about his entries or the circumstances that led him to report it. He was not even contacted after the sewage spill incidents were covered in the local press. Mr. Cooke also claims that there were several people that observed the October 12, 2006 incident. Your letter doesn't specify that NPS spoke with other witnesses from Alcatraz Cruises, NPS Rangers and other GGNPC staff. As of this date, Captain Jack Goldthotpe, who filed the Cal/EPA complaint, has not been interviewed by NPS of any other public enforcement agencies.

In addition, we were surprised to learn that the National Park Conservancy recently terminated Mr. Cooke's employment and that he filed a claim with the U.S. Department of Labor for unlawful termination in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Mr. Cooke's claim of retaliation for revealing information about problems with the storage and transportation of sewage from Alcatraz Island is very serious and one that our offices will closely monitor. It further validates the need for an independent. investigation by the RWQCB.



You(r) letter relies on information provided by Alcatraz Cruises that Brelje and Race Laboratories did nor test bilge for E-Coli contamination, putting into question the credibility of the lab that tested a sample for Ms. Secchitano. According to the Lab Manager, Ms. Ann Hill, this information is incorrect. Attached is a copy Ms. Hill's March, 14, 2007 letter to you which clarifies the conversations as follows:

"We did not tell Alcatraz Cruises that this was not the type of testing we do. I talked with them and told them we did not collect o(r) pick up samples that far away. . . I did tell them that we could not send a vehicle and person down to San Franco to collect samples."

Ms. Hill submitted a long list of her lab's accreditation with her letter which includes certification for wastewater which includes bilge.

FULL story at link.

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