The Government Accountability Project (GAP) has released a controversial Department of Energy (DOE) plan that proposes dissolving the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) and eliminating that office’s Assistant Secretary. This plan proposes to merge part of ESH with another DOE Office overseeing security, while dispersing the rest of the ESH functions over five other offices. Although DOE has not released a detailed plan to Congress or the public, this plan has been posted on GAP’s Web site. We understand that this May 19 plan may have been revised, but the extent of changes is unknown, because no version has ever been disclosed to the public.
Three former DOE Assistant Secretaries for ESH, the American Society of Safety Engineers, the United Steelworkers, and the Building and Construction Trade Department have all urged DOE to stop its reorganization in letters. Former DOE Secretary and current Governor Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) and Governor Christine Gregoire (D-WA) have also urged the DOE not to dissolve the ESH in a letter.