Let's Work Together

Original Message -----
From: Valerie James-Patton
ToSent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 7:35 PM
Subject: A National Moratorium to Stop DOI Wild Horse Round-ups
A National Moratorium to Stop DOI Wild Horse Round-ups

Hi Everyone,
I'd like to present something to everyone that I believe just might be the solution that we need to help save what's left of our wild horses and burros. I'm starting to think it may be the only solution. It's not my idea, it's Deanne Stillman's idea. And I believe it's a great one. I certainly have not seen any better suggestions. I sent this idea to some of you a few weeks ago, and because I've added many more names here, I'm sending it again to share thoughts and ideas between everyone here.
Deanne mentioned it in her recent article, "Let's Mend the Broken Trail," but until she sent me the Department of the Interior's Code of Conduct, I didn't realize the possibility of what she has in mind. Given the dwindling number of wild horses on the range, she is urging that wild horse groups set aside any differences, work together, and ask for an immediate moratorium on all wild horse round-ups carried out by any agencies within the Department of the Interior, until the Department proves itself to be in compliance with the code.
I'm pasting the Code of Conduct here, and I hope you all see what I do. For instance, note that the code prohibits the fabrication and falsification of studies. Yet last year, two Interior Dept. scientists, Brooks and Campbell, came forward and accused the Bush administration of falsifying the latest grazing studies. There are many other aspects of this code that apply to current policy towards wild horses and burros. I think Deanne might have found us all a solution. I did tell her I'd try to help push it, and just sending her idea out to all of you is the only way I can think of to do it. If any of you see the possibility as well, please forward the idea to anyone you feel might be interested.
Thank you,
Valerie



For Immediate Release Hugh Vickery May 30, 2003 202-501-4633

(WASHINGTON) -- Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the
development of a for the Interior Department
- independently reviewed and approved by a panel of leading scientists
and ethicists - to help ensure the integrity of all scientific work
done by its employees and contractors.
"The scientific code of conduct will help ensure the American people
that the research and analysis we use has been conducted according to
the highest standards of the scientific community," Norton said.
The department developed the code in accordance with a new federal
policy on conduct of science published on December 6, 2000, by the White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
In addition, the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General
recommended the department develop a scientific code of conduct in its
report on its investigation of the submission of unauthorized samples to
a laboratory during population surveys for the Canada lynx in 1999 and
2000.
The code is being developed through a unique process involving both
peer review by an independent panel and employee involvement. The code
will be a new addition to the Department Manual, and this will be the
first time employees have had a chance to comment on a change to the
manual.
"We want the new code of conduct to be fully embraced by Interior
scientists as an accurate statement of their ideals," Norton said. "We
will fully involve employees in active discussion to ensure this reflects
their professional standards."
In addition to the employee comment process, there will also be an
opportunity for public comment on a similar code being prepared for
consultants and contractors to the department. Their code will go through the
ordinary administrative rulemaking process. Dates for public comment
will be announced later.
The code is similar to the codes of conduct of many scientific
organizations, including the Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society,
and Ecological Society of America, to which many department scientists
belong. All of the scientific activities conducted or funded by the
Department are covered by this definition. These involve inventory,
monitoring, study, research, adaptive management or assessments that are
conducted in a manner specified by standard protocols and procedures.
"It is vitally important that any organization that does as much
scientific research and analysis as the Interior Department have a
well-founded code of scientific conduct that governs the full range of scientific
activities," said Dr. Deborah Brosnan, president of the nonprofit
Sustainable Ecosystems Institute and head of the independent review panel.
"Our panel felt that this was a strong code that meets three key goals
of building trust between science and the public, giving guidance, and
providing support for scientists."
The panel also included: Ann Bartuska, executive director of The
Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative and current president of
the Ecological Society of America; Baird Callicott, professor of
environmental ethics at the University of North Texas; Barry D. Gold, program
officer for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; Carol Boggs,
director of the Center for Conservation Biology; and Jim Reichman, director
of the National Center For Ecological Analysis and Synthesis.
Under the new federal policy, scientific misconduct includes both
professional misconduct and research misconduct. Research misconduct is
defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing,
performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting
them.
Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or
processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is
not accurately represented in the research record.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes,
results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of
opinion.

Any allegations brought under the code will be handled in accordance
with departmental personnel policies and with the department's Handbook
on Charges and Penalty Selection for Disciplinary and Adverse Actions as
a guide. The new federal policy includes safeguards for subjects of
allegations, including timeliness, objectivity and confidentiality.
The Interior Department has established a website
(http://www.doi.gov/ethics) that contains the existing agency directives
pertaining to policies and conduct.
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics also has a website
(http://www.access.gpo.gov) where it has published the Standards for
Ethical Conduct of Employees of the Executive Branch.
Here is the proposed code:

THE CODE OF SCIENTIFIC CONDUCT
To the best of my ability:
I will act in the interest of the advancement of science and
contribute the best, highest quality scientific information for the Department
of the Interior.
I will conduct, manage, judge, report, and communicate scientific
activities and information honestly, thoroughly and without conflict of
interest.
I will be responsible for the resources entrusted to me, including
equipment, employees' time, and funds. I will be accountable for the
prompt and accurate collection, use, and reporting of all financial
resources and transactions under my control.
I will disclose the research methods to the local communities, Indian
tribes, and other individuals whose interest and resource uses are
studied; and respect the confidential and proprietary information provided
by those individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law.
I will neither hinder the scientific and information gathering
activities of others nor engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit,
misrepresentation, or other scientific, research or professional misconduct.
I will welcome constructive criticism of my scientific activities and
information, participate in appropriate peer reviews, and critique
others' work in a respectful manner amid objective scientific review.
I will be diligent in the creation, use, preservation, and
maintenance of collections and data records; adhere to established quality
assurance and quality control programs; follow the records retention policies
of the Department; and comply with Federal law and established
agreements related to the use, security, and release of confidential and
proprietary data.
I will know, understand and adhere to standards of public information
dissemination and the formal publication of scientific information and
respect the intellectual property rights of others.
I will be responsible in all scientific activities for both the
collection and interpretation of data I collect and the integrity of
conclusions I present.
I will place quality and objectivity of scientific activities and
information ahead of personal gain or allegiance to individuals or
organizations.