Jim Aidala Quoted in BNA Daily Environment Report Article “EPA Pushes Back Against IG Criticism Of Pesticide Inspections in North Dakota”

The April 30, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report discussed correspondence between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its inspector general over the value of pesticide inspections.  The article quoted James V. Aidala.

Tempest in a Teapot

Jim Aidala, a senior consultant at the firm  Bergeson  and Campbell and the former head of what is now the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, described the disagreement as a “tempest in a teapot.”

He said most of the items the IG cited in its report as failures of Region 8 were relatively minor “paperwork exercises.” This and other recent IG reports on more minor issues are a sign that Elkins is more aggressive than some of his predecessors and is looking to gain more prominence for his office, Aidala said.

Aidala also said that Giles’ and McGrath’s decision to dispute some of Elkins’ charges was likely made for two reasons: to correct the official record and also to defend their sense of pride in their own work.

They don’t like “to be called not doing their jobs. No one does,” he said. “That obviously hit a nerve.”