Legislators Demand Investigation into Firings of Whistleblowers at Hanford

One is a coincidence, but is two a conspiracy? One legislator wants answers.

Some Northwest legislators are demanding an investigation into why two Hanford whistleblowers have been fired in the last few months. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is asking the Government Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate why the two have been let go, and why the Department of Energy has said or done nothing about the terminations.

Earlier this week,  Donna Busche, former director of environmental and nuclear safety at the Hanford site was fired "for cause" by URS Corp.  She has voiced safety concerns about the VIT plant's design.

Walter Tamosaitis, a senior engineer and long-time Hanford worker, was also fired by URS last October.

Wyden is demanding the GAO look into a potential pattern of retaliation against persons who raise safety issues and questions about the Hanford cleanup.