Donna Busche's complaints are part of a string of whistle-blower and other claims related to the design and safety of an unfinished waste treatment plant at Hanford, created by the federal government in the 1940s as part of the top-secret project to build the atomic bomb. Today, it is the nation's most contaminated nuclear site, where cleanup costs about USD 2 billion each year.
Busche, 50, said she was called into the office yesterday morning and told she was being fired for cause.
Busche worked for URS Corp., which is helping build a USD 12 billion plant to turn Hanford's most dangerous wastes into glass. Construction of the plant has been halted over safety concerns. Busche has filed complaints with the federal government, alleging she has suffered retaliation since filing her original safety complaint in 2011.
Busche has filed complaints with the federal government alleging she has suffered retaliation since filing her original safety complaint in 2011.
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The US Department of Energy is investigating Busche's safety concerns, while the US Department of Labour is reviewing her complaints about retaliation and harassment.
URS Corp said in a statement it encourages employees to raise safety concerns.
"We do not agree with her assertions that she suffered retaliation or was otherwise treated unfairly," URS said, adding Busche was fired for reasons unrelated to the safety concerns. "Ms Busche's allegations will not withstand scrutiny."
A one-of-a-kind plant is being built to convert the waste into glasslike logs for permanent disposal underground, but it has faced numerous technical problems, delays and cost increases.