TN Online - February 1, 2006
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Is DEP drawing a battle line?
Agency orders employee to 'limit' volunteer activity with
watershed group
By DONALD R. SERFASS
dserfass@tnonline.com
DONALD R. SERFASS/FILE PHOTO
Michael Menghini
Many are wondering if
tensions between the public
and a state environmental
regulatory agency have
escalated into what appears
to be an adversarial stance
adopted by the Department of
Environmental Protection
(DEP).
According to reports, Thomas
Flannery, a long-time
volunteer with the Mahanoy
Creek Watershed Association
(MCWA), has been ordered
by his employer, the
Commonwealth of PA, to
curtail activities with the
Schuylkill County
environmental organization.
Flannery volunteers with the
watershed association and
works as a mining inspector with the DEP's Pottsville District Mining Office.
According to Roseann Weinrich, MCWA president, the surprise action
stunned and outraged members of her group when they learned just days
ago that Flannery, their valued secretary, was asked by his employer to
"limit his activity" with the Ashland-based environmental group.
She said the directive to Flannery to limit his activity came from DEP's
Michael Menghini, surface mine conservation inspector supervisor at the
Pottsville District Office.
Weinrich said Flannery has been an important and respected member of
the watershed association.
"Mr. Flannery has served as our secretary since our inception and has
been an essential member of our organization throughout his tenure.
"In our opinion, the reasoning behind Mr. Menghini's directive is illogical,
self-serving, unconstitutional and a direct contradiction to the mission
statement of the DEP. This directive is also inconsistent with the policies
of the former DEP administration, including Secretary David Hess and Mr.
Bob Dolenz, who appointed Mr. Flannery to work with both the Swatara Creek Watershed Association and
the MCWA and commended him on several occasions for his dedication and service to both."
Weinrich said members of her group are shocked over DEP's stance. On Friday, the MCWA group sent a
letter to DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty asking for an explanation:
"Mr. Flannery is a tax-paying citizen of the Commonwealth and should be able to spend his spare time in
whatever way he chooses.
http://www.tnonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060131/TN_NEWS/101310005 (1 of 2)2/1/2006 8:02:19 AM
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