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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Environment - More on: Gary Post-Tribune examines IDEM calls to BP

Updating this ILB entry from June 2nd, Gitte Laasby of the Gary Post-Tribune reports today in a story that begins:

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has released more itemized phone records for its managers. But the agency still refuses to reveal whom its top air quality boss called for five days around a public hearing on BP Whiting's air permit in Hammond on March 14.

The Post-Tribune requested itemized phone records for IDEM's Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Air Quality, Dan Murray, from Feb. 1 through March 20. IDEM previously claimed not to possess itemized cell phone records for Murray for the month around the hearing although IDEM did have records up to Feb. 21. The agency said it only gets itemized bills when Murray goes over his minutes.

The Post-Tribune filed an official complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor on May 27, stating IDEM refused to disclose public information. IDEM then found the additional records with help from the Office of Technology, which IDEM says keeps the records.

"Such records are not received, maintained or kept by IDEM in the ordinary course of its business," Robert Keene, IDEM's assistant commissioner of the Office of Legal Counsel and Enforcement, said June 12 in a response to the Post-Tribune's complaint.

"The Agency has not denied access to any records that it possessed or knew to exist and has now obtained and delivered all requested records (in) respect to Dan Murray."

The newly released records cover Feb. 21 through March 12 and March 19 through 20 -- nearly the full month for which IDEM previously said it did not have records. But the agency has still not released records for March 13 through March 18 -- the day before the hearing through two work days after. Some of the released records appear to have been redacted.

The story concludes:
Environmentalists have speculated that the extensive correspondence between IDEM and BP shows the two collaborated to stack the hearing with supporters of the permit.

Public Access Counselor Heather Neal is due to issue her official opinion on the public records complaint by June 26.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 18, 2008 09:48 AM
Posted to Environment