Letter

June 27 1999

Ms Carol Browner

Administrator USEPA

401 M Street SW

Washington DC 20460

Dear Ms Browner,

Lurking in your agency’s expense accounts is a bill for two nights (Jun 24, 25) in room 2042 at the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City for approx $400. It is in the name of Peter Samuel, Environmental Scientist, ECA Office of Mobile Sour, Ann Arbor MI 48105 (see attachment). I incurred those expenses in attending the Federal Highway Administration’s “Value Pricing Workshop” and had been told the FHWA would cover my hotel expenses (in return for filling in as a speaker.)

I told the front desk clerk at the Grand Hyatt that I was not an Environmental Scientist and did not come from Ann Arbor MI. I also told her that I believed the Office of Mobile Sources was a branch of the EPA, not the ECA, but that neither was supposed to pay my bill. Rather the FHWA was supposed to pay. She said “Well it’s all the government, isn’t it?” thrusting the room key into my hand and beckoning the next person in the check-in line. On check-out I again attempted to save your agency from paying my hotel bill, but to no avail. “It was prepaid,” the clerk told me in that dismissive New York manner.

If the Grand Hyatt mistakenly billed the EPA you can contact them at 212 883 1234. But if instead your agency intended to finance my stay in New York City, I wish to thank you for the unexpected generosity. I am most appreciative.

Yours

PS I have to attend the IBTTA annual conference in Halifax NS Sept 26-29. Maybe you could arrange for me to stay at a hotel there – a single room, non-smoking of course. Then in October... well one at a time, eh? Carol, I am already beginning to see your agency’s ‘mission’ in a new light!