Mountain State Times

On August 28, 2024, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued a statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on Joe Goffman, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. The report highlighted multiple instances where Goffman did not meet ethical obligations and improperly managed conflicts of interest during EPA rulemaking procedures and other official duties affecting companies in which he held significant financial interests.

Senator Capito stated, “Today’s report raises serious questions and concerns regarding how Assistant Administrator Goffman and his Office ensure transparency, impartiality, and effectively manage potential conflicts of interest in rulemakings and other official actions. Outlined in this report is a concerning pattern of failure from Assistant Administrator Goffman and his Office to properly screen and identify situations in which he must recuse himself, even when ample information was available. At its core, this is a failure to meet ethical responsibilities by Assistant Administrator Goffman, and it seems from the report, he only self-reported or sought advice on whether to recuse from two rulemakings after he was faced with potential oversight by the Environment and Public Works Committee for his nomination hearing."

She further added, “We need transparency and accountability in the rulemaking process that recently has imposed crushing costs on our economy and American families. This report deepens my concerns with the onslaught of regulations Assistant Administrator Goffman’s office has issued in the past three and half years. The American people and West Virginians deserve transparency and honesty from government agencies, and this report shows the EPA Office of Air and Radiation has failed to live up to that standard on several instances. I will continue to investigate this matter, particularly in light of statements and assurances Assistant Administrator Goffman gave in his confirmation hearing in 2022 during the events investigated in this report.”

The full EPA OIG report on Assistant Administrator Goffman is available here.

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