Arctic scientist who exposed climate threat to polar bear is suspended as decision on offshore drilling in the Arctic looms
By Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent, www.guardian.co.uk
28 July 2011 It was seen as one of the most distressing effects of climate change ever recorded: polar bears dying of exhaustion after being stranded between melting patches of Arctic sea ice. But now the government scientist who first warned of the threat to polar bears in a warming Arctic has been suspended and his work put under official investigation for possible scientific misconduct. Charles Monnett, a wildlife biologist, oversaw much of the scientific work for the government agency that has been examining drilling in the Arctic. He managed about $50m (£30.5m) in research projects. Some question why Monnett, employed by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, has been suspended at this moment. The Obama administration has been accused of hounding the scientist so it can open up the fragile region to drilling by Shell and other big oil companies. “You have to wonder: this is the guy in charge of all the science in the Arctic and he is being suspended just now as an arm of the interior department is getting ready to make its decision on offshore drilling in the Arctic seas,” said Jeff Ruch, president of the group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “This is a cautionary tale with a deeply chilling message for any federal scientist who dares to publish groundbreaking research on conditions in the Arctic.” The group filed an official complaint on Monnett’s behalf on Thursday, accusing the government of persecuting the (PDF) scientist and interfering with his work. It seeks his reinstatement and a public apology. Monnett was on a research flight tracking bowhead whales, in 2004, when he and his colleagues spotted four dead polar bears floating in the water after a storm. The scientists concluded the bears, though typically strong swimmers, had grown exhausted and drowned due to the long distances between patches of solid sea ice. It was the first time scientists had drawn a link between melting Arctic sea ice and a threat to the bears’ survival. Two years later, Monnett and a colleague published an article in the science journal Polar Biology, writing: “Drowning-related deaths of polar bears may increase in the future if the observed trend of regression of pack ice and/or longer open water periods continues.” […]
Arctic scientist who exposed climate threat to polar bear is suspended [Sufficiently outraged Desdemona readers can contact:
- BOEMRE, Dr. Monnett’s employer and investigating agency, at
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement; - John Holdren, Whitehouse Science advisor;
- Dr.Steven Chu, Energy Secretary, 202-586-6210;
- Dr. William F. Brinkman, Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy.]
By BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press
29 July 2011 JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The recent suspension of Alaska wildlife biologist Charles Monnett is unrelated both to an article that he wrote about presumably drowned Arctic polar bears and to his scientific work, a federal official said Friday. The director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation, told agency staff in Alaska via email that it instead was the result of new information on a separate subject that was recently brought to officials’ attention. The email, written by Michael Bromwich, was obtained by The Associated Press. There has been no “‘witch hunt’ to suppress the work of our many scientists and discourage them from speaking the truth,” said Bromwich, addressing assertions made by a group that filed a complaint against the agency on behalf of Monnett. He added later: “Please be assured that you have my full support and that I look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead.” The group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said the Monnett was being “persecuted” and that investigators were asking him questions about his observation of the drowned polar bears. The Anchorage-based Monnett was placed on administrative leave July 18, pending final results of an inspector general’s investigation into “integrity issues.” […] Documents provided by the watchdog group showed questioning by investigators earlier this year focused on the polar bear observations that Monnett and researcher Jeffrey Gleason made in 2004. But the group’s executive director, Jeff Ruch, said investigators have not yet told Monnett of the specific charges or questions related to the scientific integrity of his work. According to a transcript, provided by Ruch’s group, Ruch asked investigator Eric May, during questioning of Monnett in February, for specifics about the allegations. May replied: “well, scientific misconduct, basically, uh, wrong numbers, uh, miscalculations.” “This just gets more curious and curious,” Ruch said Friday. He said he’d spoken with Monnett “almost every day,” since the situation arose earlier this year, including Friday. He said Monnett had “no ideas” about why he’d been placed on leave. “We’ll keep digging,” Ruch added. […]
