Water Agency Officials Are Accused of Silencing Workers.

Reports that a court-appointed monitor told a federal judge that officials of New York City's Department of Environmental Protection tried to impede investigations of possible violations of federal health, safety and environmental laws in regards to the city's water supply. Charges that one employee who voiced concerns about equipment and emergency response procedures was ordered to leave a site as inspectors were arriving to conduct interviews about compliance; Other examples of alleged obstruction by the agency; Comments from acting commissioner, David B. Tweedy on the need for an open culture in the agency.