WASHINGTON D.C. - According to information in the Congressional Record - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) purchased a luxury boat for $300,000 dollars, which it used for beer parties and BBQ’s . This boat has a fully appointed bar, the latest onboard entertainment systems complete with leather furniture…According to the Inspector General, NOAA had no reasonable official use for this boat. Furthermore NOAA officials in charge were accused of ‘‘manipulate’’ and ‘‘violate’’ the government purchasing rules to get this boat, which they used for alcohol fueled parties with friends and family members.
NOAA officials used the boat for the following:
Trips to dockside restaurants; Hamburger and hotdog BBQs and alcohol-fueled parties and with family and friends; ‘‘Pleasure cruises’’ at high rates of speed, with beer consumed on board; Even though Federal rules ban non-employees from being on vessels, a NOAA supervisor even told a subordinate that his (young beautiful) wife was welcome to ‘‘kick back and watch TV’’ on the boat. Then they filed expense reports and reimbursed themselves for these trips and parties where alcohol was present. A booze cruise is a booze cruise.
One NOAA officer decided to take his entire family on a weekend trip to a posh resort. He took the NOAA party boat to get there…this official then blew a $30,000 dollar engine in the process. The $300,000 party boat purchases, $12,000 in
party boat expenses paid with fishermen’s fines, a $30,000 engine destroyed by a NOAA employee on his weekend vacation…
One Congressional official said NOAA has a “culture of corruption”…and urged the President of the United States to fire NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco over this luxury debacle.
“Other interesting facts came out in the information contained in the Congressional Record, for 2-17, 2-2012. It turns out that NOAA already has many boats and more cars than it has agents”, said Whitey Burns of Charlotte, of Congressional Watch dog organization “Spot Watch”.
For additional information http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html
Robert Tilford
Charlotte, N.C.
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