While we do not expect Administrator Browner to prevent every misdeed, we do expect the administrator to ensure that appropriate disciplinary actions occur and that claims are adequately investigated. EPA managers of officials that have been found to discriminate, harass and intimidate other EPA employees or the public should be disciplined. Some committee members expressed frustration over the privacy restrictions placed on EPA in responding to allegations of discrimination at the agency. We have provided some an opportunity to discuss the issue before us without limits and others, such as the administrator of the EPA, with a forum that only allows her to discuss matters with the limits of the law specifically the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act, passed in the aftermath of Watergate, restricts the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by federal agencies.
Discrimination is intolerable and even a single case of discrimination is one case too many.
Costello asked agency officials how the EPA compares with other federal agencies in terms of the number of EEO complaints it receives. Diaz said the EPA has had 623 discrimination complaints since 1993, and 57 percent of those complaints were resolved early on. Since 1993, EPA has terminated 112 people for misconduct. This misconduct included repeated absences without leave and poor performance.