Firm of EPA nominee linked to Grace

[baby_bear]

Schneider used to be with the Seattle P-I (see article below) and published the information that outed WR Grace and its asbestos tragedy in Libby, Montana, now a Superfund site because of his efforts. He's one hell of a great investigative reporter.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.epa25jun25,1,3117938.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

By Andrew Schneider
Sun Staff
Originally published June 25, 2005


<snip>
President Bush has nominated as chief of enforcement for the Environmental Protection Agency a partner in a law firm defending W.R. Grace & Co. against criminal charges in a major environmental case. EPA employees were told late Thursday that Bush had nominated Granta Nakayama to lead the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, according to an EPA memo obtained by The Sun.
...
Nakayama, 46, a specialist in environmental law, is a full partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. The law firm is defending Grace against multiple criminal charges alleging that the Columbia-based company and seven of its current or former executives knowingly put their workers and the public in danger through exposure to vermiculite ore contaminated with asbestos from the company's mine in Libby, Mont.
...
Eleven EPA lawyers and investigators contacted yesterday refused to comment on the record, with most saying that any public comments would be "a career-ender."

However, they said the appearance of a conflict of interest involving EPA's top enforcement official is likely to have a chilling effect on pursuing investigations and actions involving Grace and any other companies represented by Nakayama's firm.
</snip>

and this from the Seattle P-I

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/230047_epa25.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=1
<snip>

"Given the criminal indictment against W.R. Grace, Mr. Nakayama's potential conflict of interest deserves special examination during the confirmation process in the Senate," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C., research organization that has done extensive work on asbestos-related illness.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., expressed concern about the nomination.

"This appointment is just the latest in a series of moves that calls into question this administration's commitment to protecting our environment, our natural resources and the health and well-being of all Americans," said Murray, who has aggressively pushed legislation to ban asbestos.

Critics say the White House has attempted to minimize the science supporting such things as global warming and the danger of mercury.

<snip>

The Baltimore Sun article is much better.

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[Spinzonner]

1. Conflict of Interest is the primary qualification for being nominated

by Bush to any position

[AllyCat]

2. These crooks will stop at nothing to protect their interests

everywhere!!! Does this position require Senate confirmation? This guy should be the next Bolton...oh wait, I guess most of them should have been. :eyes:

[baby_bear]

3. Yes, it does require confirmation

should be interesting

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[barb162]

4. reminds me of the incest of the FDA and drug companies

[baby_bear]

5. DOI and USDA also- mining/oil/timber interests run the joint

Check out - for example - Mark Rey, under secretary at USDA.

They are all corporate shills, installed in the Bush administration to serve their masters and make way for higher positions for themselves in the private sector after they have raped and pillaged the environment, public health, the planet in general, and of course the taxpayers, for short term corporate benefit.

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[barb162]

6. in Dept., after Dept., Bush has loaded these places with

corporate interests who are raping this country

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Yes his book AN AIR THAT KILLS is a must read on Libby

[baby_bear]

9. kick to that one

He's a great reporter and writer.

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[TahitiNut]

8. Kirkland & Ellis is Ken Starr's law firm.

Along with Vinson & Elkins, it's one of the consigliore firms for the Reich.

[baby_bear]

10. ACCKKKKK! You gotta be pulling my leg!!!

Everytime I think it can't get worse with this administration, it does.

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