U.S. Senate: To appoint and authorize Robert J. Martin, as special federal Ombudsman for the environment.

Robert J. Martin was the National Ombudsman of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington D.C. for nearly 10 years. During his tenure, Mr. Martin helped many American citizens and communities across the country to resolve environmental and health related conflicts with the federal and state governments. The original office of Ombudsman by federal law was to be independent and help American citizens resolve environmental complaints. This intention was frustrated by controversy surrounding restrictions of the National Ombudsman's independence noted by the United States General Accounting Office.

Mr. Martin resigned as National Ombudsman rather than accept a controversial transfer of his National Ombudsman function in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). Since his resignation, few communities feel they are heard by the government making decisions about cleanups in their area. Notwithstanding efforts by Mr. Martin and prior Congress's to ensure no interruption of Ombudsman services, many communities continue to need such services to help resolve environmental conflicts with the federal government. This petition request is to authorize former EPA National Ombudsman Martin to act as a Special Ombudsman for the environment to ensure that American citizens and communities have a federally supported option to address their environmental and health related needs pertaining to conflicts; disputes and disagreements with the federal government. This petition request is not for reinstatement of Mr. Martin to the Ombudsman function but rather a request to create a new special federal Ombudsman function based on Mr. Martin’s trusted legacy.

After his controversial resignation, communities with National Ombudsman cases in New York, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Washington state, among others, throughout the nation, including one involving one of the largest sites in the nation, Bunker Hill, Idaho were not resolved by an independent National Ombudsman using procedures accepted by both communities and the government.

It is time to appoint and authorize Mr. Martin as an independent Special Ombudsman for the Environment to address problems identified by citizens and Congress, and championed by the President of the United States and otherwise by fully and fairly following the law. 

 http://www.pogo.org/our-work/testimony/2003/nr-epa-20030114.html#Thomas_Devine_Legal_Director