EPA employees asked to stop defecating in hallways

Emails have surfaced from a regional Environmental Protection Agency office detailing vulgar incidents of government waste — literally.

Apparently, the agency’s office in Region 8 in Denver is having problems with people incorrectly disposing of their no. twos. According to Government Executive, an internal email from management officials asking employees to stop defecating in the hallways circulated earlier this year.

Deputy regional Administrator Howard Cantor cited “several incidents” in the building, including clogging the toilets with paper towels and “an individual placing feces in the hallway” outside the restroom, the news agency reported.

Concerned by the trend, EPA officials consulted with workplace-violence expert John Nicoletti, who said hallway defecation is “very dangerous” behavior and the individuals responsible would “probably escalate” their actions.

“EPA cannot comment on ongoing personnel matters. EPA’s actions in response to recent workplace issues have been deliberate and have focused on ensuring a safe work environment for our employees,” EPA spokesman Richard Mylott said in a statement. “Our brief consultation with Dr. Nicoletti on this matter, a resource who regularly provides our office with training and expertise on workplace issues, reflects our commitment to securing a safe workplace.”

This is not the first case of inappropriate employee behavior at the EPA. Reports have surfaced that workers in Alaska were caught watching porn at work and another employee at the Washington headquarters posed as a CIA agent.

This morning the House Committee on Oversight and Government reform questioned EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy on the recent conduct allegations, threatening to hold her in contempt of Congress for blocking their investigations into questionable activity.

“Cooperation with our overseers is not just EPA’s policy, but is, and has always been, part of EPA’s culture,” Ms. McCarthy told the committee.