Audit Rips Federal Land Trades, Groups Call For Ouster Of Top BLM Appraiser

The Sierra Times ^ | 12.03.01 | WLXP/PEER

[brityank]

Audit Rips Federal Land Trades,
Groups Call For Ouster Of Top BLM Appraiser

WLXP/PEER 12.03.01

Washington, DC - A Department of Interior Inspector General (IG) audit shows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manipulating real estate appraisals to favor private parties in Utah land deals. The audit was released Tuesday by two watchdog organizations, the Western Land Exchange Project (WLXP) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which called for the removal of BLM's chief appraiser.

The IG audit reviewed BLM's attempts to obtain nearly 11,000 acres within the borders of the Red Cliff Desert Reserve in southwestern Utah, near the city of St. George. The audit found the agency's chief appraiser, Dave Cavanaugh, overruled local appraisers, sidestepped federal standards for land valuation and allowed private parties to essentially name their price in land exchanges. The IG cited instances where Cavanaugh:

* Sharply reduced the market value of federal lands; and

* Inflated the value of private lands offered in exchange, in one case nearly a third higher than the owner's own appraisal.

Cavanaugh's dubious methods have been implicated in three previous audits of BLM land trades. He was responsible for the public losing more than $12 million in two land exchanges he oversaw in Nevada in the 1990s. In releasing the current audit, the groups sent a letter calling for Cavanaugh's removal from the BLM land exchange program.

"It's been clear for a long time that Cavanaugh's actions are hurting the public-the fact that he's still in his job shows how little leadership or accountability there is in the BLM," said Western Lands Exchange Project (WXLP) director Janine Blaeloch. WLXP monitors federal land exchanges throughout the West.

The Bush Administration has nominated Kathleen Clarke to head BLM. Clarke is a former aide to Rep. Jim Hansen (R-Utah) who has carried legislation to benefit local developers in real estate dealings with the agency.

"If confirmed, this nominee should clean house in BLM's appraisal program and critically review the punishment meted out to field appraisers who tried to follow the rules and protect taxpayers," remarked Jeff Ruch, PEER's executive director. PEER assists whistleblowers working within state and federal environmental agencies.

Federal land exchanges are intended to bring desirable land into public hands and relinquish "surplus" government holdings but, in the past several years, have come under increased scrutiny as several investigations have uncovered undue profits to private parties in what are supposed to be even trades.

The audit report is entitled, "Land Exchanges and Acquisitions, Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office: Independent Review Will Help Protect Integrity of Appraisal Process."

The Inspector General audit is posted on the IG's website at: http://www.oig.doi.gov/latest-reports.html.

The report can be viewed in text or PDF format.

[brityank]

The IG audit reviewed BLM's attempts to obtain nearly 11,000 acres within the borders of the Red Cliff Desert Reserve in southwestern Utah, near the city of St. George. The audit found the agency's chief appraiser, Dave Cavanaugh, overruled local appraisers, sidestepped federal standards for land valuation and allowed private parties to essentially name their price in land exchanges.

When the hell is Bush going to clean out clinton's scumbags?

[brityank]

"It's been clear for a long time that Cavanaugh's actions are hurting the public-the fact that he's still in his job shows how little leadership or accountability there is in the BLM,"

Note: It ain't just the BLM.

[meenie]

Where? What accountability?

[XBob]

clinton wanted to be a great president, so he emulated FDR's CCC (civilian conservation core), except that under clinton, the acronym stood for Clinton's Corrupt Crooks.

[Grampa Dave]

brit posted, "When the hell is Bush going to clean out clinton's scumbags?"

This is not just BLM but every federal agency that President Bush inherited. He can't fire them nor shoot them!

The FBI, CIA, Justice, CDC, BLM, UDFS, FDA, EPA are staffed and jammed with demonicRat lifers. Many were appointed to top jobs by Clintoon!

The so called conservatives who hate President Bush know what the real story is and constantly blame him for his inheritence of these truly rotten people. They are even worse than the left wingers as they know what the reality is.

Last but not least now with the demonicRat controlled Senate, they are dragging their feet re approving the appointment of Bush's top to middle management people.

This is why we need to elect more senators and congressmen in 2002 to start changing this disaster! Until then, we will continue to see these threads posted on a regular basis!

Thanks Brityank!

[poet]

Do you really believe bush will do anything about clinton's appointees? If he hasn't done it by now, he won't do it.

[poet]

What are you, some radical? He's a republican for goodness sake! \sarcasm

[Carry_Okie]

Bruce Babbit has since made a career of organizing this kind of political patronage.
I have documented the progress of that paradigm over a period of thirty years in a case study of the County of Santa Cruz, California.

[Cleburne]

Hey BLM, I got a little land I want to make a killin..er sell to you. Got them taxpayer dollars handy?

[dandelion]

When the congress lets him. Bush has yet to set important cabinet posts, thanks to the Clintonistas that seized power in the Senate...

[RJL]

Where? What accountability?

When will these thieves start going to jail?