TAPP Devolvement

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Below is a letter that I sent to Sherri Wasserman Goodman this monday.
Ironically, on that date (February 2, 1998, pp. 5255-5268), the TAPP
(Technical Assistance for Public Participation) Rule finally appeared in
the Federal Register. I have not yet seen the printed language of the
rule.

Lenny

Career/Pro
A program of the San Francisco Urban Institute
SFSU Downtown Center, 425 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

February 2, 1998

Sherri Wasserman Goodman
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environmental Security)
Room 3E792 The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301

Dear Ms. Goodman:

It has come to my attention that the staff and function for the TAPP
(Technical Assistance for Public Participation) program are to be
transferred from your organization to one of the armed services. I am
writing to ask you to reconsider this decision.

I don't want to tell the Defense Department how to conduct its own
business internally, but this program is designed to support the
interaction between all military components and the public. Particularly
because TAPP has not yet been implemented, it's essential that it remain
centered in your offices. Furthermore, public stakeholders at Navy and
Air Force facilities will be confused by the Army's role.

I recognize that the Secretary of Defense has decided to shift the
Pentagon workload from his office to the armed services. However, I
believe that any Defense program that is intended to serve public
stakeholders or the regulatory community and which relates to the
activities of all the Defense components should remain in the Office of
the Secretary of Defense. At the very least, any internal organizational
changes with significant external implications should be discussed first
with external stakeholders. Since I have not seen the full
re-organization plan, I am concerned that the shift of additional
positions and functions may cause similar difficulties.

Please note that I am not singling out the Defense Department for
criticism. When, a few years ago, EPA announced plans to disband its
federal facilities office, members of the public and state regulators
asked EPA to reconsider. I believe your office joined in expressing your
concern. We were successful. EPA was able to streamline its organization
without creating obstacles for stakeholders outside the agency. I am
confident, given the small number of positions involved, that the
Defense Department can do the same.

sincerely,

Lenny Siegel
Director, SFSU CAREER/PRO

Lenny Siegel
Director, SFSU CAREER/PRO (and Pacific Studies Center)
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org