EPA workers in Denver among 139 put on leave for signing ‘Declaration of Dissent’ letter

Three Environmental Protection Agency employees in Denver are among workers who on Thursday were placed on administrative leave for signing a letter that was critical of administrator Lee Zeldin and his oversight of the agency Two employees in the EPA s Region headquarters in Denver and one who works at the EPA s National Enforcement Investigations Center in Lakewood are under inquiry for signing the letter reported Kate Tribbett vice president of the American Federation of Regime Employees Local which represents Region employees The Declaration of Dissent letter which was sent to Zeldin on Monday was published on the Stand Up for Science website and shows at least current and retired Region employees as signatories The letter accuses Zeldin of undermining the agency s mission to protect the context and human wellbeing It s an engaging way to celebrate Independence Day to put people on administrative leave for using their First Amendment right to speak freely explained Britta Copt president of Local It appears the signatories who serve as union officers or stewards have not been placed on leave Copt commented Those who have taken early retirement or a buyout have not been affected by the administrative leave The employees on leave will be investigated for using regime time and computers to sign the letter Copt commented The union will defend those employees rights to free speech and is demanding the EPA recall the workers and end the assessment she reported EPA press secretary Brigit Hirsch wrote in a announcement to The Denver Post that the agency has a zero-tolerance procedures for career bureaucrats unlawfully undermining sabotaging and undercutting the administration s agenda as voted for by the great people of this country last November Region administrator Cyrus Western who was appointed by President Donald Trump personally spoke to the three who were placed on leave Tribbett commented Those who were in the office were escorted out of the building by safeguard she mentioned That is very peculiar and only done in the past when the employee was thought to be a threat Tribbett revealed The notice sent to employees commented they would be on paid administrative leave until July pending an study according to a copy obtained by The Post It did not explain why the employees were under review During the time you are on administrative leave you will not experience any loss in benefits or pay You are required to provide a current email address and phone number so that we can contact you as part of our study the letter stated Please verify your contact information with the individuals included on this email straightaway You will be expected to be available at the phone number provided above and or by any additional or alternative contact information you provide during your regular duty hours in accordance with your presently approved work schedule should the agency need to contact you The Declaration of Dissent letter which was signed by people and copied to Congress accuses Zeldin of undermining the EPA s mission of protecting human robustness and the conditions Since the agency s founding in EPA has accomplished this mission by leveraging science funding and expert staff in arrangement to the American people the letter states Currently we stand together in dissent against the current administration s focus on harmful deregulation mischaracterization of previous EPA actions and disregard for scientific expertise Since January federal workers across the country have been denigrated and dismissed based on false suggests of waste fraud and abuse Meanwhile Americans have witnessed the unraveling of society strength and environmental protections in the pursuit of political advantage Related Articles EPA head says he ll roll back dozens of environmental regulations including rules on environment change Trump EPA s dismantling of environmental justice efforts leaves Colorado to protect preponderance vulnerable communities With environmental justice at hazard will Colorado persist despite budget cuts Trump s weakened EPA EPA says power plant carbon emissions aren t dangerous We sought scientists Here s what they say Federal money trickles back to Colorado after Trump s funding freeze is lifted It lays out five areas of concern undermining residents trust ignoring science to benefit polluters environmental justice dismantling the EPA s Office of Research and Advance and creating a lifestyle of fear Under Zeldin s leadership the EPA has reduced employment across the country cut funding for environmental justice proposed repealing rules that limit emissions from coal-fired power plants frozen grants for clean potency projects and tried to undo a ban on asbestos Cindy Beeler a former resource adviser in the Region office noted she signed the letter because Zeldin and Trump are eroding the EPA s major role in the United States She reported similar moves in other agencies such as the National Institutes of Soundness also worry her The attack on science has been happening for years and years and years now Beeler explained The EPA s Office of Research and Improvement was world-renowned for its work on environmental problems During her career Beeler disclosed it was the EPA s research on methane that led to national strategy that directed oil and gas companies to reduce emissions at their drilling sites Without that emissions facts you can t make a rule she declared Scientific research has been shut down You can t just pick it back up in a month or a year and say Let s start those Petri dishes again ' The Associated Press contributed to this overview Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter