Whistleblower fraud allegations about Colorado air quality division “unsubstantiated,” report finds

State wellness officials said Friday greeting that they don’t person capable guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency to cognize erstwhile to estimation whether “minor” polluters successful Colorado transcend aerial prime limits connected particulates, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

The Colorado Attorney General’s bureau released Friday an autarkic study connected an probe into a ailment filed by 3 whistleblowers successful March. The study besides recovered that claims of fraud and suppression were unsubstantiated, according to Shaun McGrath, manager of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s biology programs.

The three, who worked for the state’s Air Pollution Control Division of CDPHE, said successful that 14-page complaint successful March that part manager Gary Kaufman ordered managers to archer employees not to reappraisal oregon exemplary estimated emissions astatine definite facilities for those gases and particulates little than 2.5 micrometers. All 3 lend to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone.

The employees alleged that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was “suppressing information” and “approving aerial prime permits” that violated nationalist aerial prime standards. Through the Maryland-based enactment Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the whistleblowers said the authorities fosters a civilization of approving permits for concern polluters “at each costs” and to the detriment of nationalist health.

Gov. Jared Polis and CDPHE Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan asked Attorney General Phil Weiser successful April to analyse the whistleblowers’ allegations, and successful July, authorities officials chose national ineligible firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP to pb the probe.

Ryan said Friday that the study highlighted that deficiency of national guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA representatives did not instantly respond to petition for comment.

“The study does exemplify the request for much scientifically dependable criteria and amended processes for erstwhile to exemplary insignificant sources,” Ryan told The Post.

Kaufman is inactive the manager of the Air Pollution Control Division, Ryan said.

That amazed Chandra Rosenthal, who is the Rocky Mountain Field Office manager for PEER: “They’re truly sticking by (Kaufman), huh?”

Rosenthal said authorities officials person known for years that employees had concerns astir however smaller facilities are monitored, and acted aft the whistleblower ailment went public.

Her nonprofit is considering whether to inquire instrumentality enforcement officials to analyse whether Kaufman broke immoderate laws.

This is simply a breaking quality communicative and volition beryllium updated.