[CPEO-MEF] AP Story on New Chemical Weapons Whistleblower

[bobschaeffer@earthlink.net]

               WEAPONS WORKER ALLEGES CORNERS CUT 
                 Associated Press National Wire
                 Thursday May 2, 2002 4:23 PM ET 
                        by Robert Gehrke

    Washington - Managers at the nation's only chemical weapons
incinerator encouraged workers to cut corners so a deadly nerve agent
stockpile could be destroyed before the Winter Olympics in nearby Salt
Lake City, a plant employee says.
    Brenda Mugleston, who has worked for eight years at the Tooele
Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, told The Associated Press workers were 
promised a $750 bonus for meeting the deadline. She said they felt 
pressure from managers to increase productivity and they sometimes 
mishandled weapons.
    Mugleston said she feared workers and the public were being
endangered and told managers but nothing was done. She also reported
problems to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Stuart Young, attorney for EG&G Defense Materials, which runs the
incinerator for the Army, said Mugleston's allegations are being
investigated and "at this point we don't have any reason to believe
there are any immediate health, safety or environmental concerns."
    Mugleston said she has reported the problems to OSHA and provided a 
letter saying the agency is investigating. Agency spokesman Bill Wright 
said whistleblower laws preclude him from identifying complainants.
    Army spokeswoman Nancy Ray said the Pentagon is pleased with the
work EG&G has done. "It's absolutely a professional operation," she
said. 

[THIS STORY CAN BE VIEWED IN ITS ENTIRETY AT:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/news/world/3184275.htm]

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