Charleston Leader

On August 28, 2024, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued a statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on Joe Goffman, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. The report highlighted several instances where Goffman allegedly failed to meet ethical obligations and improperly managed conflicts of interest during his involvement in EPA rulemaking procedures.

Senator Capito expressed her concerns about the findings: “Today’s report raises serious questions and concerns regarding how Assistant Administrator Goffman and his Office ensure transparency, impartiality, and effectively manage potential conflicts of interest in rulemakings and other official actions.” She further emphasized a pattern of failure from Goffman and his office to properly screen situations requiring recusal, even when adequate information was available.

“At its core, this is a failure to meet ethical responsibilities by Assistant Administrator Goffman,” Capito stated. According to the report, Goffman only sought advice or self-reported potential recusals from two rulemakings after facing possible oversight by the EPW Committee for his nomination hearing.

Capito underscored the need for transparency and accountability in the rulemaking process: “This report deepens my concerns with the onslaught of regulations Assistant Administrator Goffman’s office has issued in the past three and half years. The American people and West Virginians deserve transparency and honesty from government agencies.”

The full EPA OIG report on Assistant Administrator Goffman is available online.