New allegations of scientific misconduct at oyster farm

POINT REYES, Calif. (KGO) -- There are new charges that the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey falsified data to make a local oyster farm look bad. This is not the first time the federal government has been accused of scientific misconduct in this case.

The NPS says 300,000 hidden camera photos taken by the NPS showing Drakes Bay Oyster Company over three years prove the farm is disturbing harbor seals at the Point Reyes National Seashore.

The NPS reported the farm had a "moderate adverse impact" on the seals. But the scientist who did the research actually found the opposite.

"They turned that completely around, and they misquoted him and said he did find disturbances," says Corey Goodman, Ph.D., a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a biologist, and vocal critic of the National Park Service.

Goodman poured through documents obtained from the USGS using the Freedom of Information Act. He looked into the findings of marine mammal expert Brent Stewart, Ph.D.

Stewart reviewed the images for the USGS and concluded oyster boats were not disturbing seals. But the park service and USGS changed his findings to just the opposite and listed him as an author, even though he wasn't.

Goodman wants newly appointed Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to investigate.

"To look at this and report back in a very transparent way to the public, was the secretary duped, did scientists at the USGS and National Park Service commit misconduct, and was the decision misinformed by false science," Goodman said.

The park service has been accused before of twisting the facts. In July 2008, the Inspector General of the Department of Interior said they were, "...exaggerating claims..." In May 2009, the National Academies of Sciences said they, "...selectively presented, over-interpreted, or misrepresented the available scientific information." In March 2011, another inspector general investigator found park, "...employees mishandled research..."

The park service never responded to ABC7 News' request for comment. The USGS said it would not comment because of ongoing litigation. The oyster company will be in federal court Tuesday trying to reverse the Secretary of Interior's decision to close the farm.

Written and Produced by Ken Miguel

(Copyright ©2013 KGO-TV/DT.

View the original article here

Interior Secretary to decide CA oyster farm's fate

POINT REYES STATION, Calif. (KGO) -- After years of debate, the fate of a popular North Bay oyster farm may soon be decided. Wednesday, Secretary Of The Interior Ken Salazar heard from both sides of this contentious debate at the Point Reyes National Seashore.

They have been commercially harvesting oysters at the site of the Drakes Bay Oyster Company since 1934. But that may soon end; its lease to operate will expire at the end of the month.

Salazar will make the final decision. He toured the farm with owner Kevin Lunny, talking to workers and seeing first-hand how the farm works.

Lunny bought the aging farm in 2005, hoping he would be able to renew the lease if he fixed up the operation. The farm estimates it produces 40 percent of the state's oyster harvest.

"I would not be here today if this was not a profoundly important decision," Salazar said.

Wednesday was Lunny's first and only chance to sit down with the secretary and explain why he should be allowed to stay.

"I felt that he was trying to get fully educated to make, you know, an informed decision," Lunny said.

But some environmentalists argue that the area was designated as potential wilderness when the park was created in the mid-1960s. They say it is time for the farm to go and shared their concerns with the secretary.

"We're really pleased that he came out to listen to us to hear the tremendous support from our organization and the many local and national conservation organizations," National Parks Conservation Association spokesperson Neal Desai said.

The secretary will base his decision in part on a controversial environmental review released Tuesday night by the National Park Service. It has been the source of scientific debate between the park service and advocates for the farm.

"Understanding what's happening, meeting with Kevin and his family on the oyster farm and meeting with his workers that was very important for me to understand that, because there are consequences to the decision that I will make," Salazar said.

The secretary says he will announce his decision by the end of next week.

Written and produced by Ken Miguel

(Copyright ©2012 KGO-TV/DT.

View the original article here

Drakes Bay Oyster Co. forced to leave Pt. Reyes

POINT REYES STATION, Calif. (KGO) -- The fate of a controversial North Bay oyster farm has finally been decided. On Thursday U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Drakes Bay Oyster Company will no longer operate at Point Reyes National Seashore. It is a victory for environmentalists who have fought against it for years.

At 9:45 a.m. Kevin Lunny received a phone call that would change his life. It was Secretary Salazar, "And my daughter was standing on one side of me and my son was standing on the other and they were in tears before the end of the phone call just by looking at my face, they knew what I was hearing," Lunny said.

The oyster operation had a 40-year permit to operate through Nov. 30, 2012. Lunny acquired the business from the Johnson Oyster Co. in 2004 and was seeking a 10-year extension of the permit.

Salazar, who toured the oyster company on Drakes Estero last week, decided the let the permit expire Friday as scheduled. This decision will end the company's operations within the Point Reyes National Seashore, including an on-shore oyster processing facility and offshore oyster harvesting activities that occur on 1,000 acres of estuary.

Environmentalists and the National Park Service argued that the location was designated a wilderness area when the land was transferred to the federal government in the mid 1960's. The groups also objected to the oyster company's operations, claiming they were a threat to endangered species, including harbor seals.

"Congress back then intended for Drakes Estero at the end of the 40 year operating rights to become full wilderness, to become the West Coast's first marine wilderness and today he made it clear he's going to honor that intent," said Amy Trainer, executive director of the West Marin Environmental Action Committee.

The oyster farm decision had many powerful allies, who fought vociferously on its behalf.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the National Academy of Sciences claimed park officials were trying to get rid of the oyster farm by exaggerating its negative impacts on the environment.

On Thursday, Feinstein said she was "extremely disappointed," writing on her website, "The National Park Service's review process has been flawed from the beginning with false and misleading science. (This) effectively puts this historic California oyster farm out of business. As a result, the farm will be forced to cease operations and 30 Californians will lose their jobs."

To resolve the dispute over the seals, more than $1 million in taxpayer money was spent on environmental assessment studies, according to records. That study was used by Salazar to make his final decision.

In a statement, Salazar said, "After careful consideration of the applicable law and policy, I have directed the National Park Service to allow the permit for the Drakes Bay Oyster Company to expire at the end of its current term and to return the Drakes Estero to the state of wilderness that Congress designated for it in 1976. I believe it is the right decision for Point Reyes National Seashore and for future generations who will enjoy this treasured landscape."

California's other senator, Barbara Boxer, issued support for Salazar's choice, saying "in the end, he made his decision based on the science and the law."

Jorge Mata has worked here for 30 years. After Friday, he'll be unemployed, "I feel bad for the company here, my job, my home, and all my family all works here," Mata said.

The closure will also have an impact on the market. According to the farm, it produces nearly 40 percent of California's oyster harvest.

But Trainer says Humboldt Bay in Northern California has been expanding operations to fill in the void. Other environmental groups have promised to help find jobs for the workers of the farm.

Meanwhile, Lunny's future is uncertain, "This started with Native Americans and it became a commercial operation almost 100 years ago. It's really not just about one family. I had to deliver the news to our 30 workers that the Secretary of the Interior has decided to put them out of work and out of their homes. Many of them are highly skilled workers who have been here 30 years. They grew up in our community. This will forever change West Marin."

Lunny's family also runs a cattle ranch, but the oyster company, which he said brought in about $1.5 million annually, was the family's main source of income.

(Bay City News and The Associated Press contributed to this report)

(Copyright ©2012 KGO-TV/DT.

View the original article here

Report: Oyster farm review lacks scientific support

Questions are being raised about whether the National Park Service did enough research before trying to shut down an oyster farm. (KGO Photo)

  POINT REYES, Calif. (KGO) -- A new scientific review is raising questions about whether the National Park Service did enough research before trying to shut down an oyster farm.

The battle is over the Drake's Bay Oyster Company in the Point Reyes national seashore. The park service has claimed the farm is harming the environment and wants it closed.

But the National Academy of Sciences has found that the park service's environmental review "lacks strong scientific support" because there wasn't enough data available. The academy also said the park service research was so deficient that it was "similar to estimating rainfall for an entire year when the rainfall records are only available for March."

When contacted by ABC7 News for a response, National Park Service Assistant Regional Director Stephanie Burkhart issued a statement saying, "We welcome the input and will consider the academy's recommendations in its final environmental review." (Copyright ©2012 KGO-TV/DT.

View the original article here

Report: Oyster farm review lacks scientific support

Questions are being raised about whether the National Park Service did enough research before trying to shut down an oyster farm. (KGO Photo)

POINT REYES, Calif. (KGO) -- A new scientific review is raising questions about whether the National Park Service did enough research before trying to shut down an oyster farm.

The battle is over the Drake's Bay Oyster Company in the Point Reyes national seashore. The park service has claimed the farm is harming the environment and wants it closed.

But the National Academy of Sciences has found that the park service's environmental review "lacks strong scientific support" because there wasn't enough data available. The academy also said the park service research was so deficient that it was "similar to estimating rainfall for an entire year when the rainfall records are only available for March."

When contacted by ABC7 News for a response, National Park Service Assistant Regional Director Stephanie Burkhart issued a statement saying, "We welcome the input and will consider the academy's recommendations in its final environmental review." (Copyright ©2012 KGO-TV/DT.

View the original article here