EPA Caves

Does the government run ANYTHING right? I don't think so.


Secret Man Caves Found in EPA Warehouse
By Eric Katz June 4, 201327 Comments
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B Calkins/Shutterstock.com
A warehouse maintained by contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency contained secret rooms full of exercise equipment, televisions and couches, according to an internal audit.

EPA’s inspector general found contractors used partitions, screens and piled up boxes to hide the rooms from security cameras in the 70,000 square-foot building located in Landover, Md. The warehouse -- used for inventory storage -- is owned by the General Services Administration and leased to the EPA for about $750,000 per year.

The EPA has issued a stop work order to Apex Logistics LLC, the responsible contractor, ensuring the company’s workers no longer have access to the site -- EPA security officials escorted contractor personnel off the premises on May 17 -- and ending all payments on the contract.

Since awarding the contract in May 2007, EPA has paid Apex Logistics about $5.3 million, most of which went to labor costs. Conditions at the facility “raise questions about time charges made by warehouse employees under the contract,” the report said.

“The warehouse contained multiple unauthorized and hidden personal spaces created by and for the workers that included televisions, refrigerators, radios, microwaves, chairs and couches,” the IG report said. “These spaces contained personal items, including photos, pin ups, calendars, clothing, books, magazines and videos.”

The agency has completed an inventory of the warehouse’s contents and segregated all surplus furniture. EPA has committed to conducting an agency-wide review of all warehouse and storage facility operations.

In addition to the secret rooms, the IG found an incomplete and inaccurate recordkeeping system; numerous potential security and safety hazards, including an open box of passports; and “deplorable conditions” -- such as corrosion, vermin feces and “pervasive” mold.

EPA acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe said in a letter to the inspector general the agency has taken “immediate, aggressive actions” in response to the findings.

“The EPA is committed to addressing the previous conditions at the warehouse and implementing institutional protections to ensure those conditions do not recur at this facility or any other used by the agency,” Perciasepe wrote.

(Image via B Calkins/Shutterstock.com)

No response to this?????

Is anybody in charge of anything? Could you imagine a small business being run like this?

My thoughts exactly, fsh. No one in this government is in charge of anything, obviously. You know even big companies are that way. I HATE dealing with big companies Whenever possible I deal with small companies. As you said, imagine small businesses running this way- they wouldn't be running!!

They'd be out of business in a year.

Or less.

I had to call a big business yesterday, an insurance company and it took me 7 minutes to get to a person. I just love that.

WHL wrote:Or less.

I had to call a big business yesterday, an insurance company and it took me 7 minutes to get to a person. I just love that.

Nobody cares any more. This is what happens when every thing is acceptable.

Yeah, what baffles me is how people CAN'T care. If someone calls me, I make so sure that I call them back and if there is a problem I work until it is resolved. I cannot for the life of me just ignore someone. I swear mailboxes were made so people didn't have to return calls. And the worst of all is when you are a customer and trying to buy something and they won't even call you back then. I always think if they don't want the sale that bad, then they certainly aren't going to service you if the need arises.

Gee ... Don't you think it's much better than 30 years ago?

Yeah, right.