NASA Boss Cleared in Ethics Inquiry

[n2doc]

Analysis by Irene Klotz
Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:30 AM ET

NASA Inspector General Paul Martin today released the results of an investigation "into allegations that NASA administrator Charles Bolden inappropriately consulted with Marathon Oil Corp. as he considered NASA's involvement in an alternative fuel project.

Bolden had served on Marathon's Board of Directors for six years prior to becoming administrator and held more than $500,000 in stock in Marathon when he contacted the company seeking advice about biofuels," according to a press release.


"The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded that Bolden's contact with Marathon did not violate federal laws or ethics regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest. However, Bolden's call to Marathon was not consistent with the administration's Ethics Pledge he signed upon taking office.

"The OIG investigation determined that on April 30, 2010, Bolden spoke by telephone with a senior Marathon official for approximately 10-15 minutes seeking her technical perspective on the viability of algae-based fuels. At the time of this call, Bolden was considering a proposed agreement between NASA and the Navy relating to OMEGA, a research project that seeks to produce fuel through controlled offshore reactions of wastewater and algae. NASA has committed to funding OMEGA for up to $10 million over the next two years.

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http://news.discovery.com/space/nasa-boss-cleared-in-ethics-inquiry.html