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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 26 November 2019
Lawyer: OSHA looking into arrest of worker in hotel collapse

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY collapse, keeping him out
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The of further proceedings and
Occupational Safety and silencing other workers and
Health Administration is in- witnesses who are in the
vestigating allegations that country without legal per-
the immigration arrest of a mission. Ramirez Palma was
construction worker hurt in arrested while fishing in the
the collapse of the Hard Bayou Sauvage National
Rock Hotel construction site Wildlife Refuge. Federal
in New Orleans was retali- wildlife agents asked for his
ation for his reports about fishing license and identifi-
problems at the site, one of cation before summoning
his attorneys said Monday. Border Patrol officers.
Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma Cox told the newspaper
of Honduras was arrested the arrest had no connec-
by immigration authorities tion to Ramirez Palma's
two days after the Oct. 12 speaking out. He blamed
collapse that killed three any fear of coming forward
people and injured dozens on advocacy groups' and
more, Mary Yanik of the critics' claims of retaliation.
New Orleans Workers' Cen- "The timing is extraordinarily
ter for Racial Justice said. In a Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 file photo, workers are raised in a crane bucket to prepare two un- suspicious and the circum-
She said she believes the stable cranes for implosion at the collapse site of the Hard Rock Hotel, which underwent a partial, stances of the arrest also
arrest was retaliation for major collapse while under construction last Sat., Oct., 12, in New Orleans. show that the purported
his reports to a supervisor Associated Press reason for the arrest was
before the partial collapse pretextual. He was arrested
and to reporters afterward. López said. "The only rea- day that Ramirez Palma She said an investigator for fishing without a license
Bryan Cox, a spokesman son Alexandria has an inter- remains in custody: "We do from OSHA's whistleblower but he had a valid fishing
for Immigration and Cus- national airport is because not discuss future opera- and retaliation division also license," Yanik said.
toms Enforcement, called ICE deports people from tions to protect operational planned an interview. A lawsuit by Ramirez Palma
such claims "outrageously there," he wrote. security, but I will say that Ramirez Palma's wife called and four other injured work-
irresponsible," The Times- Yanik said she doesn't know the rumors of his removal her organization the day of ers says the project's de-
Picayune/The New Orleans whether deportation has today are not accurate." his arrest, and the group velopers and construction
Advocate reported. been deferred for Ramirez Yanik said in an email that sent his report to OSHA on firms caused the collapse
Immigration attorney Palma, who has been fight- OSHA investigators have Oct. 24, she said later. by using inadequate mate-
Homero López Jr. said in an ing a deportation order interviewed Ramirez Palma His job was putting in win- rials and supports.
email that Ramirez Palma since 2016. He had lost an twice before. dow framing. He had told Ramirez Palma's wife said
was moved last week to a appeal and applied this "The first interview was an a supervisor more than five he's worked in the area
facility at the Alexandria In- year to hold off execution OSHA investigator gener- times before the collapse for nearly two decades
ternational Airport but has of the deportation order. "It ally looking into the Hard that his laser leveling tool and had complained be-
been at a facility in Jena was denied in early Octo- Rock collapse," and the showed the building tilted 2 fore the collapse that the
since Friday. ber but he was not aware second was with an agen- to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centi- concrete floors were sag-
"Alexandria is the last stop" of that. He only became cy official and an attorney meters), Yanik said. ging, forcing him to double
— not a long-term immigra- aware of that when he was from the Labor Depart- She said his deportation and triple-check measure-
tion center but one that arrested," Yanik said. ment's regional solicitor's would complicate the fed- ments in the imbalanced
exists only for deportation, Cox said in an email Mon- office in Dallas, she wrote. eral investigation into the building.q

Arizona tribes oppose plan to dam Colorado River tributary

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado River in four lo- and historical sites and
Native American tribes, cations, including paved want to ensure the federal
environmentalists, state roads, tourism and jobs. government keeps them in
and federal agencies, river The Navajo Nation owns the loop on the proposals.
rafters and others say they the land, and the projects "A project such as this
have significant concerns won't move forward with- would forever disturb a tra-
about proposals to dam a out the tribe's OK. The tribe ditional cultural landscape
Colorado River tributary in wrote in comments posted that maintains historic and
northern Arizona for hydro- online Monday that the sacred value and that is
power. dams could negatively im- part of the cultural iden-
Phoenix-based Pumped pact its land, water, wild- tity of the Hualapai peo-
Hydro Storage company is life and cultural resources. ple and other neighboring
seeking preliminary permits Cameron, the Navajo tribes," Hualapai Chairman
from the Federal Energy community closest to the Damon Clarke and Peter
Regulatory Commission proposed projects, already Bungart, the tribe's historic
to study sites on the Na- has asked the Federal Ener- preservation officer, wrote
vajo Nation, east of Grand gy Regulatory Commission in their comments.
Canyon National Park. to deny the permits. The Federal Energy Regu-
This May 2014 provided by Grand Canyon Trust shows the point The company's manager, The Hopi, Hualapai and latory Commission has no
where the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River meet in Steve Irwin, has touted the Havasupai tribes also said hard deadline to act on
northeastern Arizona. potential economic ben- they are concerned about the request for the prelimi-
Associated Press
efits of damming the Little possible impacts to sacred nary permits. q