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ASCE confirms ethics probe of collusion with Corps of Engineers

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has just announced they’ve convened two ethics panels to review questionable practices within their ranks.

One, an internal committee composed of three past ASCE presidents will review allegations that specific ASCE staffers colluded with the US Army Corps of Engineers to cover up corps mistakes in the Katrina flooding. The other, an even broader task force headed by a retired US Congressman will review how ASCE participates in engineering studies of national significance. Both should be completed in about four months.

The creation of not one but two ethics inquiries into alleged collusion between ASCE and the corps is of huge significance!

The smell of corruption is ripe and the citizens of south Louisiana should not be told to wait four more months. Clearly, the integrity of the corps-sponsored levee investigation has been compromised!

If you haven’t already, please go to www.levees.org and demand the 8/29 Investigation. Don’t we all deserve levees that work?

Sandy Rosenthal

You can click here for the whole story.

The ills of ASCE

Friday, November 30th, 2007

Dr. Ray Seed, a respected well-known engineer has submitted a 42-page letter detailing how the US Army Corps of Engineers controlled the official levee investigation in New Orleans and the external peer review, too. Dr. Seed wished to follow proper channels and so brought his complaint to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) which has acknowledged convening a “committee on professional conduct” to address the allegations.

An intriguing post script of Dr. Seed’s letter contains this statement:

“The select group of individuals receiving copies of this have been chosen for my confidence in their tact and discretion…..In some cases they know additional significant pieces (italics mine) of this saga that are not addressed in this letter….”

Apparently Dr. Seed elected to leave out, and probably for very good reason, some additional significant pieces of his story. I, and the whole rest of the nation, hope that those select individuals will come forward in the spirit of rightness and reveal what they know.

We have posted Dr. Seed’s letter to the internet and you can access it from the home page of our website, www.levees.org.

Sandy Rosenthal
Executive Director, Levees.Org
www.levees.org

Levees.Org responds to news of ASCE ethics probe

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

Last week, while the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) was threatening us with legal action for our cute video spoof portraying the ASCE’s questionable behavior, it turns out ASCE had in their back pocket the very same complaint from one of their own!

The ASCE (a giant) served Levees.Org (a fledgling non-profit) a Cease and Desist for our student-made video suggesting that the Corps had too much influence over the official investigation as well as over the ASCE peer review. Meanwhile, ASCE has admitted to launching an internal ethics probe based on allegations from Dr. Ray Seed, co-author of the respected UCal of Berkeley Levee Investigation.

“We consider Professor Seed’s letter to be confidential, and we will continue to honor that principle even if others do not,” said a statement issued late Monday by ASCE President David Mongan. Mr. Mongan is likely taking another stab at Levees.Org who, true to our mission of eduction. turned a copy of Dr. Seed’s letter over to the press.

My response to Mr. Mongan: “Dr. Seed’s letter speaks to issues that directly affect the citizens’ lives and livelihoods in New Orleans, south Louisiana and the entire nation. The public is NOT well served when comments critical of government policy and issues of public safely are kept under wraps.”

Click here for the Times Picayune article.

Sandy Rosenthal
Executive Director, Levees.Org
www.levees.org