Complaint / Review
U.S. Marine Corps - Headquarters - Freedom Of Information And Privacy Acts Section
Willfully and Maliciously Witheld an Environmental Report Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request

I was formerly the supervisor of the Environmental Compliance Section of the Facility Engineer of the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. I was removed from my supervisory position because I was ordered to falsify personnel records for poor performing employees, and I refused to do so. The Marines removed me from my position and then kicked me off the island and sent me back to the U.S. To silence me.

I joined with the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) in requesting a report prepared by the Marine Corps about illegal dumping activities on the island of Okinawa, Japan. We requested this report via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps denied that such a report was prepared and denied to send us anything under FOIA. PEER was seeking this information in order to ensure that the Marine Corps was taking all necessary precautions to protect the environment and the health and safety of the residents of Okinawa.

The report in question was prepared by Don Oshiro. Don worked for me. I was the one who ordered him to prepare the report. After he prepared the report I read it, but I did not retain a copy. We then requested it several years later under FOIA. Don then said he did not remember the report. How convenient! Don was one of my renegade employees. He did his own special projects, and oftentimes would ignore the work I told him to do. When I gave him a poor mid-year performance rating, he went whinning to Major John Galli, the environmental officer. Don was also a Don Juan, since he had the hots for a young Japanese woman employee who worked for us, and he sexually harassed her.

PEER then filed an appeal for the FOIA request (#5720 ARAD 20000426095608). This was sent to a Mr. B.L. Thompson, Head of the Privacy Acts Section for the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps witheld the report.

This type of behavior indicates the Marine Corps made serious efforts to cover up illegal and willfull discharges into the drainage systems on Okinawa. This type of Cavalier attitude was very common among the top brass on the island at that time.

As a warning to other potential whistleblowers in the Federal Government, do not expect the OSC or the MSPB to help you. Your best ally would be an organization like Public Employees for Environmental Reposibility (PEER).