The Cultural Landscape Foundation requests court permission to inspect the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before further repairs begin.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation has asked a federal judge to allow experts to inspect the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to assess its condition before the National Park Service proceeds with additional repairs. The group argues that further work could destroy evidence regarding the whether the pool's defects were caused by vandalism or construction errors. This request follows a lawsuit against the administration for renovations that replaced the original dark gray basin with a blue-colored synthetic liner. While federal officials initially attributed the damage to vandalism, the Department of Justice recently acknowledged that a rushed and botched installation by the contractor was the most likely cause. The Cultural Landscape Foundation contends that the administration provided less than fulsome information regarding the project. The administration opposed the request for inspection, noting that under the Administrative Procedure Act, discovery is generally limited. A judge has yet to rule on whether the group will will be granted access to the pool.