Depot whistleblower spurs Army into action
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

The agency representing a Blue Grass Army Depot whistleblower has revealed the Army's efforts to silence chemical weapon plant employees from disclosing sensitive information.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) released a statement this week claiming that the Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) has issued an order that any further disclosures of sensitive information must be approved by the Army in advance.

On Sept. 2, Donald VanWinkle of Berea filed a federal whistleblower complaint alleging improper air monitoring inside the weapons storage igloos.

According to VanWinkle, nerve agent monitoring devices used to detect leaking chemicals in storage igloos have been inoperative until very recently.

He has worked as a air systems monitoring operator since 2002 and was relieved of his duties shortly after making his statement and was given work in another area at the depot.

Any employee who works directly with the chemical stockpile such as VanWinkle is enrolled in the Army's Personal Reliability Program. If suspicious behavior begins or if an ulterior motive is displayed by an employee, he or she is suspended from duty while the investigation is conducted.

"It's a program that ensures we only have the best people working with the stockpile," said Lt. Col. George Shuplinkov, commander Blue Grass Chemical Activity. "I think our community demands it. Plus, it's an Army regulation."

The investigation regarding VanWinkle has yet to be completed.

The CMA's non-disclosure order reads, "As the global war on terrorism continues, it is becoming increasingly important that we continue our efforts to protect operationally significant information that identifies our operational plans and vulnerabilities.

"The enemy has continuously shown a capability of gathering open-source information on Army operations, equipment and personnel. We must exercise caution when determining what information will be released to the public."

The order was sent from Benjamin S. Griffin, commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command.

VanWinkle along with other depot employees were required to sign an agreement Sept. 12, according to a statement from PEER.

Examples of inappropriate information for public release includes equipment capabilities, limitations and vulnerabilities, test locations and dates, sensitive unclassified reports for internal Army use and lessons learned that could reveal sensitive military operations, according to the CMA's order.

"If release of particular information genuinely threatens national or even operational security, it should be classified and this order would not be necessary," said PEER general counsel Richard Condit. "This order, however, is far broader and covers whole new categories of information that formerly have been in the public domain. The order is so broad that it makes what General Griffin had for breakfast a state secret."

The Chemical Materials Agency did not return calls or e-mails from the Richmond Register.

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