Friday, September 2, 2005
Chemical weapons worker seeks whistleblower status
JONATHAN M. KATZ
Associated Press
 
WASHINGTON - A worker who alleged that a Kentucky Army facility mishandled its chemical weapons filed a formal whistleblower complaint Friday.

Donald Van Winkle lost his security clearance at the Blue Grass Army Depot on Aug. 3 and was transferred to a desk job, his attorneys told the federal Occupation Health and Safety Administration. He asked for $10,000 in damages, thousands in lost overtime and protection from losing his job completely.

"Mr. Van Winkle has heard that BGAD management is out to get him and he has been advised by co-workers to watch his back," said the letter, which was authored by the Washington-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a Washington-based advocacy group.

Blue Grass officials had not seen the latest allegations, said depot spokesman Dick Sloan.

Van Winkle, of Berea, Ky., had operated air-monitoring units at the Richmond facility. On Aug. 24, he told Defense Department officials that post's monitoring system for deadly VX nerve toxin incorrectly configured, threatening the lives of employees.

The Defense Department Inspector General is still reviewing the case, said spokesman Gary Comerford.
But that should not keep the depot from restoring Van Winkle's security clearance, said PEER executive director Jeff Ruch. "Whether or not he is right or wrong shouldn't affect whether he's a security risk," Ruch said.

The complaint had to be filed this week so that it wouldn't expire under a federal statute of limitations. If the matter is not resolved in 30 days it will go before a federal judge, Ruch said.

Van Winkle alleged that when he told depot officials of the problem in February, they did not take immediate action. But the depot did change its monitoring procedures of the dangerous weapon in March or April of this year based on the suggestion of an employee, post commander Lt. Col. George Shuplinkov said last week.

Van Winkle has not alleged that anyone has been harmed by the weapons since they have gone unmonitored.

VX, stored as an oily, amber-colored liquid, is a deadly agent developed for use in the Cold War. It can be absorbed by breathing, ingestion or skin contact and small amounts can be fatal.

The Army stores about 520 tons of chemical warfare agents at the Madison County depot. The U.S. Defense Department has slated the weapons for destruction.