Va. Congressman Demands Hearing On Sexual Harassment In Park Service

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, requested a hearing to investigate the alleged sexual harassment at federal agencies, particularly the National Park Service (NPS), at Thursday's full committee hearing with Secretary Ryan Zinke.

McEachin says detailed reports issued by the Department of Interior’s Inspector General "indicate that sexual harassment may be engrained in NPS’ workplace culture."

“Large agencies like NPS that are geographically dispersed and isolated face particular challenges when trying to change a deeply rooted culture,” McEachin said in a statement. “We have an obligation to victims and their families, as well as the American people to keep a watchful eye and to end sexual harassment within the federal government.”

The committee has not held a hearing solely dedicated to addressing reports of sexual harassment, McEachin said. Although Zinke declared a zero-tolerance policy and promised an update of policies, new training requirements and new reporting procedures, McEachin says “that is simply not enough,” according to a press release.

McEachin's hearing request follows multiple 2016 reports by the Office of Inspector General by the Interior Department — the male-dominated NPS' parent agency — alleging sexual harassment in various NPS branches.

A "Women in Law Enforcement" task force was created in 1999 to address the issue of sexual harassment in NPS after numerous reports of harassment and gender bias in promotions at the Grand Canyon, but not much was done with the recommendations, The Washington Post reports.

Park Service spokesman Jeffrey Olson told The Washington Post that implementation of most of the recommendations was haulted due to budget cuts and the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Olson said in 2016 they "will be revisited."

The Inspector General published an investigative report of misconduct at the Grand Canyon River District in January 2016. The report studied 13 complaints submitted by former and current NPS employees describing incidents they had experienced or witnessed over the span of about 15 years in the Grand Canyon National Park's River District (GRCA).

The complaints alleged River District employees demonstrated evidence of “discrimination, retaliation, and a sexually hostile work environment" during GRCA river trips.

"We found evidence of a long-term pattern of sexual harassment and hostile work environment in the River District," the report states. "In addition to the 13 original complainants, we identified another 22 individuals who reported experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment and hostile work environment while working in the River District."

In a June 2016 report, the inspector general found a pattern of unwanted attention and sexual advances involving a law enforcement supervisor at Canaveral National Seashore (CANA) and three employees in Florida.

The law enforcement officer, Edwin Correa, said his actions were "cultural misunderstandings," according to The Washington Post. This was the fourth investigation of CANA since 2012.

"It is critical that the NPS and other agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction get it right," McEachin said in a statement. "As the committee of jurisdiction, we have an obligation to the public, and to the victims and their families, to provide oversight of NPS and Department of Interior efforts to end sexual harassment."

Photo: Rennett Stowe/Flickr