A whistleblower complaint filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration against URS, a Hanford vitrification plant subcontractor, has been expanded.
Walter Tamosaitis, who was released from the vit plant project by URS in July, has amended his complaint to include the Department of Energy and Bechtel National, the vit plant contractor.
"OSHA should now broaden its investigation to determine whether URS and Bechtel conspired to remove Dr. Tamosaitis from his position at Hanford after he raised safety and technical concerns regarding the (vit plant), and whether their actions were motivated by DOE," Jack Sheridan, the attorney representing Tamosaitis, said in a statement.
Tamosaitis, who was a senior executive at the vit plant, alleges in the complaint that he was subjected to a hostile working environment, had his future career threatened and was removed from the project in retaliation for raising issues.
The complaint details the performance and safety issues Tamosaitis said he raised while working as the manager of the research and technology division on the vit plant project. The complaint alleges that his concerns called into question whether Bechtel met a contract deadline that resulted in a multimillion- dollar bonus.
The DOE Office of Inspector General also was investigating allegations of retaliation against Tamosaitis, but stopped in September when it learned of the OSHA investigation.
Bechtel previously has said that many independent experts from industry, academia and the national laboratories have played a role in the engineering design of the vit plant and have helped confirm the plant will operate safely and efficiently.
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DOE wants whistleblower lawsuit dismissed
DOE wants whistleblower lawsuit dismissed
The Department of Energy is asking that a Hanford whistleblower lawsuit filed against it be dismissed.
Walter Tamosaitis, the former manager of research and technology at the Hanford vitrification plant, filed a lawsuit in Eastern Washington District U.S. Court in November.
He has alleged since summer 2010 that he was removed from the project for raising technical concerns that could affect the safe operation of the plant, which will process high-level radioactive waste for disposal. His employer, URS, says that is not why he was re-assigned and that the change had been planned for some time because Tamosaitis' assigned work was coming to an end.
Controversy continues to surround vit plant safety culture
Controversy continues to surround vit plant safety culture
A recent independent review of the safety culture at the Hanford vitrification plant shows that the culture is flawed, said Peter Winokur, the chairman of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
That is contrary to the conclusion drawn by the panel that conducted the review.
Winokur's reaction was among recent developments in the intractable dispute about whether concerns about safe operation of the $12.2 billion plant are being raised and addressed without retaliation. Developments include:
Lawyers for Bechtel, Tamosaitis argue lawsuit's merit
Lawyers for Bechtel, Tamosaitis argue lawsuit's merit
Bechtel National plans to argue Monday that Hanford whistleblower Walter Tamosaitis doesn't have his facts right and his lawsuit should be thrown out.
But a lawyer for Tamosaitis will argue that Bechtel has misstated the facts and the case should go forward.
Both sides are scheduled to be heard Monday before Judge Craig Matheson in Benton County Superior Court to consider Bechtel's request to dismiss the case.
Hanford subcontractor, DOE being sued by former vit plant executive
Hanford subcontractor, DOE being sued by former vit plant executive
The Department of Energy and Hanford subcontractor URS were sued Wednesday in federal court by former Hanford vitrification plant executive Walter Tamosaitis.
Tamosaitis has alleged since summer 2010 that he was removed from the $12.2 billion project for raising concerns about the safe operation of the plant, which will process high-level radioactive waste for disposal starting in 2019.
Bechtel National, which holds the DOE contract for the project, denies that.
Second Hanford vit plant official files whistleblower claim
Second Hanford vit plant official files whistleblower claim
A second official at the Hanford vitrification plant has filed a federal complaint, claiming she was discriminated against for being a whistleblower on issues related to safe nuclear operations of the plant.
Donna Busche, manager of environmental and nuclear safety at the plant, filed the complaint against URS Corp. and Bechtel National with the Department of Labor.
Bechtel holds the Department of Energy contract to build the $12.2 billion plant to treat high-level radioactive waste for disposal starting in 2019. URS, which employs Busche, is Bechtel's prime subcontractor.
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