NOAA chief administrator Jane Lubchenco, here last month to announce reparations and apologize for excesses and misuse of police authority in enforcing the Magnuson-Stevens Act, has declined a U.S. Senate subcommittee invitation to testify about law enforcement and the hotly disputed privatization regimen for which she has crusaded.
Instead, she will send a subordinate — Eric Schwaab — whom she appointed administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
"Yes, Dr. Lubchenco was invited to testify," said Justin Kenney, NOAA's communications director, in an email. "However, since Eric Schwaab is … leading the reform of our enforcement program, it was determined that he was the best person to testify."
As the law enforcement abuse scandal broke, Schwaab and Lois Schiffer, NOAA's chief counsel, convinced Lubchenco to ignore miscarriages of justice while reforming the system. It was a decision that drew howls from Congress and was overturned by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in September during a meeting with political and industry leaders in Boston.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.