Chemical Weapons Working Group
P.O. Box 467
Berea, Kentucky 40403
(606) 986-7565 (606) 986-2695 (fax)
kefwilli@acs.eku.edu www.cwwg.org
for further information contact:
Craig Williams: (606) 986-7565
for Immediate Release: Sunday - May 2, 1999
WHISTLEBLOWER TO BE REINSTATED AT UTAH CHEMICAL WEAPONS INCINERATOR
After almost five years of legal battles, Steve Jones will resume his position as
Chief Safety Officer at the Army's Tooele, Utah Chemical Weapons Incinerator
on Tuesday.
Jones was illegally was fired in July,1994 for raising safety, health and environmental issues at the plant. He sued EG&G Defense Materials, Inc. under federal whistleblower protection laws and was successful in regaining his former position, compensatory damages and back pay in spite of a series of appeals by EG&G following each decision.
Twice EG&G appealed to the Administrative Review Board of the Department of Labor (DoL) and lost both times. Having exhausted all remedies within the DoL, EG&G turned to the 10th Circuit Court requesting they stop enforcement of the DoL ruling until after they heard the arguments of their latest appeal. The 10th Circuit turned down EG&G's request and ordered EG&G to reinstate Jones in March of this year.
"Every ruling from every venue has gone my way," said Jones, "I feel completely vindicated about my actions in the past and am looking forward to returning to my position and finishing the job I was hired to do."
Since Jones' firing there have been several other high ranking employees either fired or pressured into leaving. The former General Manager, Gary Millar, left the plant after raising issues about the readiness of the plant to begin processing the deadly nerve agents stored there. Millar left the plant, settling with EG&G for an undisclosed amount of money after internal documents comparing the incinerator with the "Challenger before lift off" were discovered by the Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG).
Chief Hazardous Waste Manager, Trina Allen was also retaliated against by EG&G for revealing that she was pressured to sign off on the readiness of the plant by her superiors. Allen was later vindicated by the DoL on her initial claims and continues to seek damages from EG&G.
"The pattern is unmistakable," said Craig Williams, CWWG director. "If you're not willing to go along with your superiors to cover-up problems at this facility you're retaliated against either by demotion or being fired."
Citizens, environmental and veterans groups are challenging the ongoing operations of the Army's Utah incinerator in court along with the construction of three additional incinerators in Oregon, Alabama and Arkansas, claiming the facilities will not adequately protect the health of citizens and the environment. These groups do advocate disposal of these weapons, but insist that alternative treatment processes will be more protective and environmentally sound.
Jones will hold a press conference on Monday, May 3 in Salt Lake City to discuss his reasons for wanting to return to work at the incinerator, his expectations for the job and what he has gone through as a result of his being improperly terminated.
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