Hanford Subcontractors Refuse to Cooperate in Whistleblower Investigation – Say Officials

Two Hanford subcontractors have been sharply criticized for refusing to cooperate in an investigation over a fired Hanford whistleblower.

According to a report Thursday from NextGov.com,   the Energy Department's Inspector General, and the chairwoman of a Senate oversight committee say a complete investigation into the legalities of firing a whistleblower cannot be finished;  because the two companies won't cooperate.

URS and Bechtel are accused to refusing to release over 4,300 documents requested by federal officials.  The case involves Hanford worker Donna Busche, a former compliance manager who called attention to what she said were safety issues.

URS had said earlier, in sworn depositions by officials,  that Busche's suite was "without merit" and called attention to what they said was a strong safety culture.  She was fired after bringing to light her safety concerns, she was one of a number of such whistleblowers who have been fired or terminated at Hanford.

There have been enough of them the government is looking into whether there has been a "culture" of retaliation formed at the nuclear site against workers who voice concerns.

Federal officials issued a report Wednesday on the Busche termination, but could not draw a conclusion if she was wrongfully terminated because URS and Bechtel refused to release the requested documents.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) who chairs the Senate oversight committee that watches government contracts and subcontracts (including Hanford)  wants to know what can be done to force the companies to turn over the requested information.  The companies claim their sub-contractor agreements provide them certain private work privileges - but McCaskill says language in the documents requires them to product any and ALL government documents when requested for audits.

McCaskill also wants to see what can be done to recoup any attorney's and legal fees the Inspector General might incur from this investigation, and she wants URS and Bechtel to pay for them.