Published: May 11, 2007

Second whistleblower
Chemist claims wrongful firing

By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

A chemist at the Blue Grass Army Depot is claiming to have been wrongfully fired and is demanding reinstatement and back pay.

Lexington native Kim Schafermeyer is being represented by PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility), a Washington, D.C.-based organization  that provides assistance and representation to employees who "blow the whistle" on issues that regard environmental harm. He served as an analytical chemist and industrial hygienist while employed at the depot.

Schafermeyer's affidavit was released April 6 by PEER, although he was fired from the depot July 12, 2006.

According to PEER's statement released Wednesday, some of Schafermeyer's safety and pollution concerns include: direct venting of chemical warfare agent expelled from testing equipment directly into laboratory areas occupied by workers and visitors; improper handling of air and waste water samples; and flawed monitoring data protocols, including apparent creation of figures when data gaps occurred.

"When serious allegations are made by employees at Blue Grass Chemical Activity, they should be taken seriously and should be thoroughly investigated in order to ensure the highest level of safety and performance at that facility," said Craig Williams, director of the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group. The grassroots organization serves as a watchdog over the chemical weapons disposal process to make sure environmental protection remains a priority in the operations.

Schafermeyer's case is awaiting hearing before a U.S. Department of Labor administrative law judge, although it may be sent back to the federal civil service authorities for processing under the Whistleblower Protection Act rather than under federal environmental laws.

"If allowed to present sworn witnesses at a hearing, I will give voice to those BGCA (Blue Grass Chemical Activity) workers like myself who are inappropriately silenced by the acts of retaliation from a vindictive management team," Schafermeyer wrote in his affidavit.

"We're at the beginning stage (of the case), but we don't know which way we're going to go," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER. "It is our burden to show that he was fired for an improper reason. He wants his career and his good name back."

PEER also is representing Donald VanWinkle, a whistleblower and former employee of the Blue Grass Army Depot. VanWinkle's concerns were similar to those of listed Schafermeyer's affidavit and resulted in an ongoing investigation by a federal grand jury.

The depot is being investigated for possible criminal wrongdoings that involve alleged improper storage of the chemical weapons and allegations of retaliatory actions against VanWinkle.

Aside -from VanWinkle and Schafermeyer, Ruch said he has heard from several other depot employees who have reported cases of falsification of
records, employees who do not have the proper qualifications, nepotism and "serious safety and environmental problems, he said.

"There are growing questions about the competence of the facility management," Ruch said. "The command at Bluegrass appears to be far more concerned with containing the truth about conditions inside the depot than with containing the lethal chemicals it is supposed to be safe-guarding. The picture emerging from the sworn statements of depot workers is downright scary."

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.