RESTON, Virginia — Bechtel today responded to a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General memorandum regarding a special review it conducted about issues pertaining to the termination of Ms. Donna Busche, a contractor employee at the Waste Treatment Plant project. To view the DOE OIG memo, visit http://energy.gov/ig/downloads/special-review-doeig-0923.
Bechtel’s response to the OIG review:
“We are disappointed in the language contained in the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General special review memorandum. Bechtel went above and beyond in cooperating with the Inspector General’s investigation–providing requested documents for review and people to interview, in accordance with the protocol agreed to with the OIG.
Furthermore, we offered to work with the OIG to provide access to documents that are protected under the law, in a way that preserves those protections, but the OIG declined our offer.
Donna Busche was a URS employee, and the decision to terminate her employment was made by URS, as a URS executive confirmed in sworn testimony before a Congressional hearing. Bechtel is committed to providing a work environment in which all employees are treated fairly and are able to raise concerns without fear of retaliation–and Bechtel expects its subcontractors to do the same.”