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DEP worker accused of tampering with NYC's water

DEP worker accused of tampering with NYC's waterEyewitness News
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By Jim Hoffer http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?
section=local&id=4910139
(New York - WABC, January 5, 2007) - A worker with the New York
Department of Environmental Protection is under investigation for
allegedly tampering with equipment that chlorinates a reservoir
serving more than eight million New Yorkers.

Police sources tell us that the city's Department of Investigation
used a surveillance camera to catch the DEP worker. He was initially
suspended for a month, but now he's back at a desk job pending the
outcome of an internal investigation. Some officers who protect the
city's water supply say that's an outrage.
There is no more important reservoir in New York because it provides
water to nearly 9 million city residents. And it's inside the
reservoir's water treatment building that DEP police sources tell us
a worker was caught tampering with chlorination equipment.

"The brass of the DEP police were looking to squash it and not have
it really be known," a DEP officer said.

And the public may have never known if not for these DEP officers,
who asked that we not reveal their identities for fear of being
fired.

These officers claim a serious security breach occurred several
months ago when they say a disgruntled worker tampered with the
water chlorinating equipment. Their claim is backed up by an
internal e-mail from the DEP police chief alerting certain officers
of "incidents of suspected tampering of the chlorine cylinders."

"Chlorine on its own is a deadly gas, it is one of the deadliest
gases out there, so just in terms of chlorine leak would be a danger
to residents, chlorine is also used to purify New York's water
supply," a DEP officer said.

The DEP in a statement to Eyewitness News says, "The employee in
question was immediately removed from any contact with water supply
facilities, suspended for 30 days, and assigned to administrative
duties pending completion of an internal investigation."

State Senator Jeffrey Klein (D-The Bronx): "I feel that person
should be fired immediately."

This state senator led the push for tougher water security measures.
He says if what the DEP police sources say is true, then the law has
been broken.

Hoffer: "Is that a crime?"
Sen. Klein: "Absolutely, this is someone who clearly through their
job had access to chlorine and things that treat our water and that
person breached their public trust."

The DEP is currently on probation for past environmental crimes. A
court-appointed monitor has federal oversight to ensure no other
laws are broken, perhaps a reason for the agency to down play this
alleged tampering incident.

"I hope for their sake this is not something that breaches their
agreement with the EPA through the federal mandate but at the same
time this is a signal that they have to do a better job," State
Senator Klein said.

The Department of Investigation shared their findings with federal
prosecutors, but that office has declined to comment.

The DEP says it is continuing its investigation into the incident
and when completed will determine any disciplinary action.

(Copyright 2006 WABC-TV)