Justice department investigates alleged misuse of funds and negligence at Hanford site

Hanford Wash. — Allegations of workers sleeping on the job and even watching movies. That's what a whistleblower says they saw from some contract workers at the Hanford site. Now the Department of Justice is investigating. Action News spoke with the US Attorney's Office, as well as attorneys representing the whistleblower on Thursday, Jan. 25.

A formal complaint has been filed by the US Attorney's Office alleging millions of dollars in fraudulent overcharging against some of Hanford Mission Integration Solutions or HMIS' Fire Protection Personnel, a critical role at the Hanford Site. Vanessa R Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, says. "The work that we are highlighting in this complaint, and why it's so important to ensure that this work is being done properly is because it is so important to our environment."

The complaint alleges personnel experienced unreasonable idle time on a daily or near daily basis.

"This money that is being invested by taxpayers, by our community is not, as the allegations detail in the complaint, being used for the work that it's intended for. Instead, we have issues with individuals sleeping on the job, watching tv on the job," said Waldref.

The complaint alleges that HMIS supervisors were fully aware of the extensive idle time for its personnel, but, instead of taking steps to address it, they actively encouraged personnel to fraudulently charge idle time to work codes associated with HMIS’ contract, passing the costs off as "performed work or training".

In an example given by the US Attorney's Office, the complaint alleges when a Fire Systems Manager wanted to know how to charge a day in which a worker hadn't worked a full ten-hour day, the manager responded, “[I]f they DID NOT have a job assignment for the day – that means you are on standby and would use the 600318.” The complaint details 600318 as the cost code associated with training.

KEPR News also spoke with attorneys representing the whistleblower on this case, who tell us the worker has been employed at the site since 2009, after trying to go through proper channels at HMIS. To no avail, he then sought legal assistance.

Richard Condit, a Partner at Mehri & Skalet PLLC, a Discrimination Lawyer in Washington D.C., who also serves as Co-Chair of their Whistleblower Rights Practice Group, says,

"The False Claims Act provides a mechanism for individuals to come forward and raise important issues involving fraud concerning government contracts, government resources. Mr. Keever, in this case, Brad Keever did just that, and presented his information to the government, the government did an investigation, which took the better part of a year. Mr. Keever is a fire maintenance person, he's got a lot of credentials, he's a longstanding Hanford employee, and he knows the importance of fire suppression. When things were not happening the way they were supposed to, with respect to the inspection, testing and maintenance of the fire suppression system, he tried to go through channels, tried to get them to do different. Finally after many times of trying, eventually, you look for other ways to deal with it."

The US Attorney's Office says they've handled fraudulent situations like this at the site in years' past, and tell us they're always on the lookout. Waldref commented, "When there are problems that indicate and support these complaints and allegations that we've alleged here, it is really critical that we do our part in bringing these cases to draw attention to the issue, and to appropriately make our dollars be used exactly for what they're intended to."

Condit, says fire suppression is one of the most important safety tools in the Department of Energy's toolbox, and says the job shouldn't be taken lightly.

"An uncontrolled fire in the wrong part of the facility can result in the release of very, very dangerous and hazardous materials into the air and to the surrounding community," Condit explained. "Fire suppression and fire maintenance of systems has to be done, and has to be done according to national standards and Department of Energy standards. Essentially, that's not what what was happening."

As for the next step, the US Attorney's Office says HMIS will respond to the complaint, however, that will not be made public.

Though, in a statement to Action News on Thursday, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, says. "HMIS is cooperating with the Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Energy on this matter. We are committed to resolution and identifying opportunities for continuous enhancements to increase our effectiveness as a DOE contractor. HMIS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in everything we do."

You can find out more about the investigation from the Department of Justice, and even read the full complaint for yourself here.