i r' w- on; Humon FOUH 2 em LIOMURESS t- i-r-w?ww at the itiniteh ?tatrs 30mins at Fl? ON IT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM 215i I'invniinnl OFTIUF ELHLDING DC 20515?343 MM: Him {202} 225?50?- hltp-yn Lem gm .1 July 28, 2016 The Honorable Jonathan B. Jarvis Director National Park Service 1849 Street NW Washington, DC. 20240 Dear Director Jarvis: On July 14, 2016, the Committee held a hearing to obtain facts and testimony related to our investigation of misconduct at the National Park Service, including the extent of sexual harassment throughout the Park Service. During the hearing, witnesses testified about recent reports by the Department of the Interior Of?ce of Inspector General (01G) detailing sexual harassment and misconduct at two facilities within the NPS.I The OIG found a pattern of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment that spanned over a decade at the Grand Canyon River District, as well as a pattern of sexual harassment at Canaveral National Seashore.2 In response to these reports, D01 and NPS abolished the Grand Canyon River District and will implement a survey of all NPS employees to identify the extent of sexual harassment.3 To date, however, conversations with the 010 have revealed no ?nal agency action had been taken against any senior-level personnel as a result of the 016's ?ndings These are not new problems. A recent media report stated that NPS leadership became aware of ?a problem with sexual harassment and discrimination against women? more than sixteen years ago.4 According to media reports, in 2000, NPS was required to administer a survey on sexual harassment and created the Women in Law Enforcement Task Force (WLET) as the result of a 1999 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) settlement agreement that stemmed from complaints of harassment and gender bias in promotions at Grand Canyon lHearing before the H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov ?i Reform: Oversight ofthe National Park Service, 114th Cong. (July 14, 2016). 2D01 01G, ?Report of Investigation Sexual Misconduct by Chief Ranger Canaveral National Seashore? (June 7, 2016) (Report No. OLGA-1603174). 3Letter from Jonathan Jarvis, Director, NPS, to the Hon. Niki Tsongas, Apr. 19, 2016, available at Gilpin, Investigations Show extensive harassment history in Park Service, HIGH COUNTRY NEWS, May 4, 2016, manilabie at enforcement. The Honorable Jonathan Jarvis July 28, 2016 Page 2. National Park.5 The task force reported its ?ndings and recommendations to senior leadership.6 The task force found NPS was unable to retain women in law enforcement positions due to gender bias, sexual harassment and hostile work environments? Over halfof female park rangers who responded to the survey experienced sexual harassment on the job and eighty percent knew someone who experienced harassment but did not report it for fear of retaliation.8 .The Park Service has been aware of problems with sexual harassment since 2000, but is reSponding to these more recent incidents with yet another survey. This response is eSpecially disappointing in light of the fact that some of the same officials handling the Park Service?s response to these cases were involved in 2000. In a February 2016 reSponse to the recent ?ndings of sexual harassment in the Grand Canyon River District, Intermountain Regional Director Sue Masica wrote, have zero tolerance for the behavior described in the (Of?ce of Inspector General) investigation.?9 Director Masica was a member of the NPS National Leadership Council that received the ?ndings of the WLET report in November 2000. The fact that the Park Service?s cultural problems have persisted for at least sixteen years shows the Park Service?s response to the task force?s ?ndings was ineffective, and fresh ideas are necessary. The ?nal WLET report recommended that NPS institute a training program and a hotline for reporting grievances to the EEO of?ce, among other recommendations that were to be completed by October 2005.ll The Park Service never implemented any of these recommendations. It should come as no surprise that NPS is still plagued by the same serious lssues. The report also identi?ed a lack of accountability as a signi?cant and recurring problem with reSpect to preventing and reSponding to sexual harassment at NPS. The report states, ?Accountability has proven particularly elusive as it relates to a stated policy of zero tolerance of sexual harassment.?1 It is disturbing that some of the same of?cials who knew of these issues sixteen years ago allowed the same serious misconduct to occur again. To help the Committee understand response to sexual harassment and miscoxiduct, please provide the following documents and information: sLisa Rein, As National Park Service confronts sexual harassment, this mis?znctionoi park is Exhibit A, WASH. POST, Jul. 2, 2016. Gilpin, Investigations show extensive harassment history in Park Service, High Country News, May 4, 20 16, forcement. 1d. Btat 9Memo from Sue Masica, Regional Dir. Intermoumain Region, NPS to Dir. Jonathan Jarvis, NPS, Feb. 11,2016, availabte at Gilpin, Investigations show extensive harassment history in Park Service, High Country News, May 4, 21016, forcement. 1d. l2?it/omen in Law Enforcement Task Force Report", Aug. 17, 2000, available at .org/documents/28232 7-NPS The Honorable Jonathan Jarvis July 28, 2016 Page 3 l. The full and unredacted ?nal report of the Women in Law Enforcement Task Force (WLET), and any related documents and communications referring or relating to implementation of the recommendations contained therein. 2. The full and unredacted January 7, 2000, National Park Service Female Law Enforcement Questionnaire and responses received to the Questionnaire as well as any related documents and communications. 3. The full and unredacted Equal Employment Opportunity settlement agreements between the National Park Service and former NPS employees: and ?and any related documents and communications referring or relating to the 1999 settlements. Please provide the requested information as soon as possible, but no later than by 5:00 pm. on August 11, 2016. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate ?any matter? at ?any time? under House Rule X. When producing documents to the Committee, please deliver production sets to the Majority staff in room 2157 of the Rayburn House Of?ce Building and the Minority staff in room 2471 Rayburn House Of?ce Building. The Committee prefers, if possible, to receive all documents in electronic format. An attachment to this letter provides additional information about respOnding to the Committee?s request, Please contact Melissa Beaumont of the Committee Majority staff at (202) 225-5074 and Lucinda Lessley of the Minority staff at 202-225-5051 with any questions about this request. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Mata, 7g Jason Chaffetz Eli]: 1' Chairman /la ng Member I Brenda L. Lawrence Ranking Member Subcommittee 0n the Interior Subcommittee on the Interior Enclosure