Judge pulls plug on Interior Dept. computers

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Because of a court ruling, the Interior Department is running the old-fashioned way: computerless.

Piles of paper have replaced e-mails, and telephoned queries have replaced clicks on Web sites.

A month after a federal judge pulled the plug on the department’s Internet connections, the situation is causing headaches for the public and agency employees alike.

"I think we’re all working very hard to try to deal with these problems," Interior spokesman Hugh Vickery said Friday. "We’re in the 21st century now, and when your e-mail and Web get taken away, it’s a real challenge."

Computer users no longer can look for information on endangered species from the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Web site or get campground information for the Grand Canyon from the National Park Service’s site.

Information on leasing land or adopting a wild horse from the Bureau of Land Management is no longer is available via the Internet. Even recruitment of the bureau’s summer firefighters has been hindered, bureau spokeswoman Celia Boddington said.

At the Fish and Wildlife Service, spokesman Mitch Snow said wetlands conservation grants can’t be distributed because the service cannot receive online applications. And state planners and developers can’t get the service’s endangered species lists or wetlands maps.

The disruption also has affected 40,000 Indians, who normally get royalty checks from the Interior Department for leases on their land but have received none since the computer blackout.

It’s a strange twist that U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth shut down the agency’s computer system on Dec. 5 so the department could repair security problems that he said threatened the Indians’ royalty money.

Lamberth is presiding in a 5-year-old lawsuit brought by Indians over the Interior Department’s acknowledged centurylong mismanagement of a trust fund for royalties from their land.

"This is clearly a problem of Interior’s creation," said Keith Harper, an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund. He said Interior’s extraordinary efforts to make sure its employees get paid while 40,000 Indians go without, ignoring Lamberth’s instructions to pay the Indians, "is just appalling."

"Some of these are for the poorest people in the country. We’re talking about folks who are using this money for basic, basic needs: keeping electricity on, buying heating oil, buying jackets for their kids," Harper said.

Portions of the department’s communications are being restored, under strict oversight by court-appointed investigator Alan Balaran. Systems for law enforcement and Indian welfare services have been restored, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Web site again is accessible.

But nobody knows how long it will take to install necessary security systems so the rest of the operation can be brought back online.

Balaran said he wants the reconnection done quickly. "I will not, however, accept any shortcuts which could ultimately compromise trust data," he said in a letter to Interior lawyers sent Friday.

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.