Washington – The U.S. Interior Department said today it is postponing plans to move its federal mapping agency office from Rolla, Mo., to Denver pending a review of the decision.
Earlier this month, Missouri Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Sens. Kit Bond and Jim Talent, all Republicans, asked the agency’s inspector general to launch a formal probe of a decision they say was made without proper justification.
In a statement today, the agency said Assistant Interior Secretary Mark Limbaugh “has directed a review of the decision process in light of questions raised about that process.” It was unclear whether the new review would affect any investigation conducted by the agency’s inspector general, which operates separately.
Barbara Wainman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va., said there is no timeline on the review process.
“We’re going to try to do it as quickly as possible,” Wainman said. “We wanted to ensure that the site selection process was as fair and equitable as possible.” Although Limbaugh is directing the review, Wainman said it is unclear whether he will have final say over the process.
The federal agency announced plans in September to consolidate operations from Rolla; Menlo Park, Calif.; and Reston, Va., into the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center in Denver. The move would force 187 Rolla employees out of their jobs within a year.
Missouri lawmakers complained the decision ignored the recommendation of an internal committee that found Rolla was the best choice for consolidation based on wages and operating costs.
“I am glad the Department of Interior is willing to review this arbitrary decision, because I think a mistake has been made which needs to be corrected,” Emerson said in a written statement.
One of the city’s largest employers, the U.S. Geological Survey office has been in Rolla since 1921.
USGS officials have defended their selection process, saying operating costs were just one factor in the decision and that Denver came out ahead in other criteria, such as proximity to federal agencies and ability to attract the best work force.
But defenders of the Rolla office claim the agency never clearly laid out how the factors were being considered.
“We are hopeful, now that we’ve shined a light on this issue, officials will do something a little unusual in Washington – actually examine the performance of a facility before deciding whether to move it,” Talent said in a written statement.
Bond said he hoped the review would show the decision-making process was flawed.
“I am pleased that the Administration has acted to review this faulty decision,” he said.
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, who met with Rolla employees on Monday to hear their concerns, said the news was hopeful.
“This was an ill-conceived plan and I am pleased that the administration is giving second thoughts to closing what has been an extremely efficient and effective federal office with exceptional employees.”
