Judge Permits Transfer of EPA Ombudsman's Office

Date: April 10, 2002

Source: News Room

A federal judge has refused to block the Bush administration's plan to transfer the Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous waste ombudsman to another office. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts ruled that Robert Martin had not exhausted all administrative remedies before going to court. Martin, who handles citizen complaints on waste and Superfund matters, had asked the court to block EPA Administrator Christie Whitman from moving his office to the EPA Inspector General's Office. Martin and his supporters, including members of Congress, say the transfer from the Superfund section is a retaliatory act that would weaken his independence.

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