By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Rep. Thomas Saviello, I-Wilton, asked the state’s ethics commission to investigate whether his environmental manager job at International Paper poses a conflict of interest with him serving on the legislative committee with environmental oversight.

On Monday, Saviello took himself off the Natural Resources Committee until the ethics commission has completed an investigation.

In his letter to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, Saviello said he also wants an investigation of the allegation that he was involved in a “so called ‘deal’ to avoid enforcement action” against IP in exchange for support of Androscoggin River legislation.

“I just want to clear the air,” he said.

Saviello has said that former DEP Commissioner Dawn Gallagher offered him a deal to drop environmental enforcement against IP if he agreed with the pollution legislation. Saviello said he rejected Gallagher’s offer, telling her the two issues were “separate.” He said he told Gallagher if she needed to send IP a letter of enforcement, “send it.”

But on Monday, DEP’s new commissioner, David Littell, said he was at a December 2003 meeting between Gallagher and Saviello and that Saviello expressed interest in a trade.

Littell said he did not remember who first brought up the idea, but that both had a “very active discussion” that moved back and forth between enforcement action against IP and river legislation.

“There was no hesitation. They both dived right in,” Littell said.

After the meeting, Littell said he told Gallagher “the discussion was inappropriate and unethical. I used those terms.”

Gallagher responded “that she wanted Tom Saviello’s cooperation on Gulf Island Pond,” Littell said. There were later meetings between the two that he did not attend, Littell said.

Saviello said Monday that he did not recall a December meeting or discussing any trade with Gallagher then. He said he only remembered the results of a January 2004 meeting at which he told Gallagher no.

Saviello said he called for the investigation of himself because “there are too many allegations. I’m tired of my kids seeing dad on the front page.” He added that he ran for office to do good things. “I don’t want to be a lightning rod.”

His decision to call for an investigation is best for his district, including the nearly 300 paper workers he represents, he said.

Once the probe is over, Saviello said he’s confident he’ll return to the committee, that his role at IP and the State House has not been in conflict.

Neil Ward of Androscoggin River Alliance, who has complained that Saviello’s role is a conflict, praised Monday’s decision.

“It’s good he’s taken it upon himself to do this. Someone should look at it,” Ward said.

Saviello’s request will be taken up by the commission on Feb. 8, said Executive Director Jonathan Wayne.

In order for there to be a conflict of interest, a legislator must personally benefit from being in office, Wayne said. He added that the law is complicated, and does provide for different scenarios, such as whether a job “impairs judgment” of a legislator, Wayne said. “It depends on the facts of the situation.”

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