"Critical Report Slams EPA's Office of Civil Rights"

"WASHINGTON -- While U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has made environmental justice one of the seven priorities for her term in office, a new review she commissioned criticizes the agency's anti-discrimination program for both employees and contractors.

Issued on March 21 by the Deloitte Consulting firm, the 'Evaluation of the EPA Office of Civil Rights' details 'significant performance challenges.'

The Office of Civil Rights lacks 'the rudiments of organizational infrastructure,' such as established procedures, defined staff duties or the ability to track cases. Its handling of employee complaints 'is known for poor investigative quality and a lack of responsiveness.'

These challenges have emerged over the past decade and have continued to erode performance at the agency's Office of Civil Rights, OCR, the review states."

Environment News Service had the story April 5, 2011.