Grassley Seeks Accountability for Hart Building Clean-up Cost
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, todaysought accountability for the cost of the multi-million dollar clean-up of the anthrax-contaminatedHart Senate Office Building. Grassley today learned the clean-up cost approached $14 million twoweeks ago and is likely to exceed that amount.
The text of his letters to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Senate Sergeant atArms is below.
January 18, 2002
Christie Whitman
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator Whitman,
I am writing to request information about the cost of and contracting process for the threemonthlong remediation of the Hart Senate Office Building.
My colleagues and I certainly appreciate all the hard work of your agency. We also realizethe task poses many new challenges, such as the recent discovery of personal protective gear in theceiling of the 6th floor, which has caused another delay in reopening.
I grant that this is a massive undertaking on your part, as evidenced by the small city of trailersand tents that have cropped up near the Hart building. And while I’m also confident that you takeour safety very seriously, I am concerned about the fiscal integrity of this operation.Also, my staff was informed by an EPA official today that the cost estimate through the endof December for the cleanup of all Capitol Hill buildings is $14,000,000. The cleanup of the Hartbuilding is 96 percent of that, or about $13,440,000, which surely will increase by the time theremediation is complete and the building reopened. My staff was also told that the Senate Sergeantat-Arms office will be paying EPA for this.
As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, my responsibilities includeoverseeing any government outlays of taxpayer funds. I am sure you agree that it’s important tomake sure the EPA is getting its money’s worth on a project of such importance.In a task of such large magnitude, costs can very easily escalate, and there can be a tendencyto run up the tab.
My concern about accountability has also been heightened by two recent events involvingyour agency.
First, the EPA’s ombudsman provides an important oversight and watchdog role. Trying toeliminate this position gives the appearance of attempting to silence a critic, especially after RobertMartin raised important questions about EPA’s activities.
Second, I’m disturbed by revelations that EPA officials in New York City aren’t followingtheir own advice. They told worried residents near Ground Zero they only need clean their homeswith wet rags and mops. At the same time, EPA officials hired a company to clean EPA downtownNew York City offices for hazardous materials. It looks like the EPA isn’t practicing what itpreaches.
In light of these two situations, I fear that an attitude of accountability at the EPA may beslipping.
Therefore, I am requesting you provide the following information about the cost and contractsfor cleaning the Hart Senate Office Building by Friday, January 25, 2002:
1) Describe the process by which these private companies were hired. Did a governmentagency circulate Requests for Proposals? Describe the circumstances of the bidding process,including whether companies were hired on a sole source basis, through a competitive process, orsome other method. Provide the names of all companies who submitted bids for work but were notselected.
2) What specific funds have been allocated to pay for this? From what agency’s budget willthe funds come from? Is there any plan or discussion for one agency to seek compensation fromanother to pay all or some of the remediation costs?
3) The amount of money paid or promised to each of the private contractors involved in thecleanup. This data should include the specific service the contractor provided for the cleanup. Alsoinclude payments to any “support” contractors not directly involved in cleanup but who have beenhired to support the operation. Your answer should contain this information for both the originalcontracts and any revisions.
A) The criteria for how the private contractors are paid: by hour, by contract, by taskaccomplished or some other method. Also include any performance measures they must meet toreceive payment.
B) An estimate of food, housing and transportation payments to the contractors. How arethese costs documented by the contractors, and how does the responsible government agency verifythem?
C) A current estimate of the cost of remediating the Hart building, and an estimate for thefinal, total cost of the project.
4) The number and names of companies involved in the cleanup. Provide specific details onthe type of service each contractor is providing for the remediation. Also, include basic companyinformation such as location of corporate headquarters, approximate number of employees, andwhether it is a publicly- or privately-held company. Also, include an approximation of how manyemployees from each company are involved in remediation.
5) Please provide a copy of any agreements or contracts between EPA and any Capitolagencies, such as the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, that spell out who will ultimately payfor cleanup of the Hart buildings and other Capitol facilities.
I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter, and I look forward to receivingyour reply by Friday, January 25, 2002.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
CC via facsimile: (202) 224-7690
Alfonso Lenhardt
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms
Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms
U.S. Capitol, S-151
Washington, DC 20510
January 18, 2002
Alfonso Lenhardt
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms
Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms
U.S. Capitol, S-151
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Sergeant-at-Arms Lenhardt,
I am writing to request information about the cost of and contracting process for the threemonthlong remediation of the Hart Senate Office Building, and your office’s role in the process.My colleagues and I certainly appreciate all the hard work of your office in what is certainlya massive undertaking. While I trust that you and the EPA have our safety at heart, I am concernedabout this operation’s fiscal integrity and level of oversight.
As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, my responsibilities includeoverseeing any government outlays of taxpayer funds. I am sure you agree that it’s important tomake sure the EPA is getting its money’s worth on a project of such importance.
My staff was informed by an EPA official today that the cost estimate through the end ofDecember for the cleanup of all Capitol Hill buildings is $14,000,000. The cleanup of the Hartbuilding is 96 percent of that, or about $13,440,000. My staff was also told that the Senate Sergeantat-Arms office will be paying EPA for this.
First, is the information in the previous paragraph accurate as far as you know?
Second, if your office does plan to repay the EPA for this cost, will your office be requestingadditional appropriations to pay for this, or are current funds sufficient?
Third, it is my understanding that the Environmental Protection Agency is handling the hiringand supervision of the contractors who are conducting the cleaning in the Hart building. What roledoes your office play in overseeing this process?
I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter. Please provide answers to myquestions by Friday, January 25, 2002:
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member
CC via facsimile: (202) 501-1540
Christie Whitman
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
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