Email from Richard Auwerda, NADC Animal Caretaker Supervisor to John Dunn, Asst. Director Ames Water & Pollution Control Dept. - May 9, 2006
From: "Richard Auwerda"
<rauwerda@nadc.ars.usda.gov>
To: "John R Dunn" <JDunn@city.ames.ia.us>
Cc: <rauwerda@huxcomm.net>;
<david.schmitt@idals.state.ia.us>; <usda_hotline@oig.usda.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: Meeting Follow-up
John - Thank you for letting me know. What is going on.
Although this is not something I wanted to do and/or be involved in, both
Tim and I realized what the consequences might be going into this.
After carefully weighing everything, including perhaps loosing our jobs and
even our physical safety being in jeopordy, we had decided (with input from
our families) that the consequence niether of us could live with was knowing
we had turned a blind eye to this and living with ourselves after having
done this. We both take our Positions of Public Trust Very Seriously.
Therefore, anything we have given you is to be used as the City of Ames sees
fit. This also holds true with other government agencies at various levels.
I do want to STRESS that this is only a small group of people at NADC.
That the vast majority of employees are caring and resposible individuals
and will be just as outraged, and shocked, as were all of us. This should
show that the system does work. I'm just sorry it did not work quicker, and
that Adminstration here shoulders the blame. Perhaps this is a good
time for this to come out, as a new director, and new time for NADC can
begin with "no secrets".
In answer to your other questions, yes I
spoke with IA DNR representative Steve Williams on the telephone, he
indicated that you (City 0f Ames) had the authority in this. I mailed him
(late
yesterday) the cover letter sent to you and advised him to contact you (City
of Ames) in regards to documentation.
The same holds true for EPA Region 7 (no phone call). I just sent it to
thier address in Kansas City and marked "suspect wastewater contamination).
Again I gave you as the contact person.
The Acting State Veterinarian, Dr Schmitt, recieved the exact same items you
did. My wife Dr Peggy Miller hand delivered them to him.
After recieving your email this morning, I
did contact the USDA Office of Inspector General. I was asked to forward
them some of my email documentation. I also gave them you as a contact
person. (email address is: usda_hotline@oig.usda.gov
I would suggest contacting AAALAC (Association for Assesment and
Accreditation of Lab Animal Care. (301)-231-5353; web site; www.aaalac.org
It is a "peer review" accreditation for research
intitutions who use animals. They review not only animal care, but safety
and biocontainment. We had accreditation (NADC) up until 2002, but lost it
when we decided to no longer seek thier accredittation after failing a
probationary period reinspection.
I think you may also want to contact the Federal HHS, CDC, NIH as they are
the ones who have just been mislead by NADC to get approval for BSE prion
research, in which we will innoculate our first calves with BSE (Mad Cow
Disease) this Thursday, May 11, 2006.
As I've told you in the past. If you need anything from me, do not hesitate
to ask. Thank you and your department again for restoring some of the Trust
I and others have lost in much of the government at all levels. Please pass
that along to every public official with the City who has put the People
first. You are true public servents and Tim and I appreciate you all.
RICHARD AUWERDA
ANIMAL CARETAKER SUPERVISOR
NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE CENTER
2300 DAYTON AVENUE; PO BOX 70
AMES, IA. 50010
(515) 663-7429 (OFFICE)
(515) 597-3087 (HOME)
E-MAIL: rauwerda@nadc.ars.usda.gov