The Colorado Sun: Whistleblowers attacking the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division for conflicts of interest and improper modeling of potential pollution sources raised valid concerns in complaints to the EPA Inspector General, but the state’s violations were not intentional and officials did not falsify data, according to a new report by the state Attorney General’s Office.

The report by an independent attorney, ordered by the state Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate three internal whistleblowers’ complaints, details a conflict of interest by APCD Director Garry Kaufman involving himself in permits for a Teller County gold mine his former private law firm represented.

“Kaufman had a potential conflict of interest with respect to the (Cripple Creek & Victor) mine, which he did not report for two and a half years in violation of CDPHE policy, but the conflict was resolved prior to issuance of the final permit,” according to the report, by Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders. The law firm was hired by the attorney general.

Visit The Colorado Sun for more.