U.S. Oil Program Rife with Conflicts, Favoritism, 'Promiscuity'

[nosmokes]

looks like some heavy duty drilling has been going on already...
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/report_oil_program_rife_with_c.html">original-wapo

Report: U.S. Oil Program Rife with Conflicts, Favoritism, 'Promiscuity'

Government officials in a program that collects royalties from firms drilling on federal land partied and had sexual relationships with employees of oil and gas companies; accepted lavish gifts including ski trips, sports tickets and golf outings; and steered contracts to favored firms, according to a two-year Interior Department investigation released today.

Investigators said they "discovered a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" in the Colorado office of the program.

The report alleges that the former director, Gregory W. Smith, also arranged side deals that personally netted him more than $30,000, according. Smith's lawyer, Stephen Peters, said he had not yet read the report, but that allegations about drug use and sexual liaisons "sound very much embellished and fabricated."

"Greg Smith was a very loyal and dedicated employee," Peters told The Washington Post.

Apart from Smith, another 13 people in the office of fewer than 60 people have been recommended for administrative action for showing favoritism and having had personal relationships with energy company employees from 2002 through 2006.

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complete article http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/report_oil_program_rife_with_c.html">here

[texastoast]

1. Oil business incest

I am so not surprised. They were so mad when the term "sexual harassment" was coined.