HATCH ACT

THE HATCH ACT

 

I never discuss politics with my friends. I learned a long time ago that people have entrenched feelings that are seldom changed by honest discussions. As a Federal employee I was protected from politics by the Hatch Act. Prior to its passage politicians took advantage of employers by requiring them to campaign and raise funds on their behalf. I felt safe from politicians, or so I thought.

In 1984 I was charged by the Regional Administrator (RA) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be the Chief engineer overseeing the Federal role in the cleanup of Boston Harbor. As was required I had to report on occasion on the progress toward that end. In 1988 the RA ask me for a report on the water quality of the harbor. We had barely begun the project so partially treated wastewater was still being discharged by both the Nut and Deer island plants. And on rainy days the overflow of stormwater and wastewater was entering the harbor with no treatment at all. The conditions were deplorable to say the least. So that is what I reported.

1988 happened to be a Presidential election year. Then Vice President H.W. Bush was running a tough no holds barred campaign against his political opponent Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis. I was watching the evening news one night and there was the Vice President in a boat cruising around Boston Harbor saying things that sounded quite familiar to me. “These waters are in deplorable conditions” and he quoted other parts of my report as well. At the press conference that followed he put the blame entirely at the feet of Governor Dukakis. It was totally unfair since the Governor had taken action to create a new Agency to address the problem and significant progress was being made toward the planning, design and construction of new treatment facilities. But what politician plays fair in the heat of a campaign.

Of course that wasn’t the reason Gov. Dukakis lost but it sure didn’t help. I was kind of miffed for a while but I got over it. Actually in the end it actually helped the cause in the cleanup. The President after making such a deal about the pollution of Boston Harbor felt he had to do something. He sent the Administrator of the EPA William K. Reilly to Boston in 1990 to get a first hand report on what progress was being made. The RA and I accompanied Mr. Reilly on a Coast Guard helicopter to tour the harbor from the air. Dodging both incoming and outgoing air traffic from Logan, I pointed out to Mr. Reilly the beaches impacted by the polluted waters. Among the beaches were Carson and City Point beaches where I swam in my youth. Thanks to the President and the Speaker of the House “Tip” O’Neill sufficient Federal Monies were made available to complete the project.

Today we have a state of the art treatment plant on Deer Island with an outfall discharging 9 miles into Mass. Bay. Boston Harbor today is one of the cleanest harbors in the country. I am proud to have played a part in its cleanup.