Death threats, abuse and corporate retaliation seem to have taken the place of any sense of esprit de corps at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) since stimulus funds and related staff started pouring in, according to workers.
Working conditions at the South Carolina DOE weapons complex facility have again been called into question as information obtained by the Aiken Standard paints a picture of unprofessional behavior and acrimony at the top levels of DOE management.
Following a dispute between Site Manager Jeff Allison and individuals at DOE Environmental Management (EM) headquarters in September and early October, new information has come forth of seemingly widespread discord between DOE-EM executives and stimulus management and staff.
An investigation began at SRS after Director of SRS American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Vincent Adams claimed his life was threatened by Elaine Nix, the contracting officer for SRS ARRA work.
However, others claim in internal e-mails that they fear for their safety around Adams and his boss Cynthia Anderson, director of EM ARRA. Others still question alleged varying accounts Adams has offered and a delay in reporting the alleged threat.
The incident took place Oct. 29, according to a report made by Adams. He claims that he was berated by Nix. Also, during a conversation about a hunt club function, Adams wrote in his report that "she would have shot me if she had a gun because of what I had put her through with my e-mail."
A witness told Adams, he claims, that after he left the area in a state of shock, Nix repeated that she meant what she said.
An investigation was started and Nix's Site badge was taken from her and she was placed on leave, according to internal communications.
An external investigator brought in to look at Nix and the allegations found that she was not a threat to anyone, and on Nov. 16, it was concluded she should be given her Site badge back. The investigation was undertaken by a former South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Assistant director, Steven Smith.
Adams reportedly submitted more than one version of his report. One to security staff at Wachenhut and a second, longer version to Anderson.
In the report to Anderson, Adams outlines what he sees as a pattern of abuse by Nix toward him. He writes that, in conjunction with Deputy Manager for Cleanup Sandra Johnson, Nix is stoking "the fire of hate" against him.
The vitriol is not one-sided. Johnson wrote in a Nov. 10 e-mail that she is being attacked by Anderson and states that top executives at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) fear Anderson is retaliating against them for cooperating with an inspector general's probe into her conduct.
"I am being retaliated against by Cynthia Anderson and Vince Adams for cooperating with the IG investigation and EM-2 ... refuse to stop her constant hostile and harassing behavior," Johnson wrote.
EM-2 is Dae Chung, second in command of DOE-EM.
These e-mails are not alone. Allison claimed earlier this year the he had been threatened by Inez Triay, Anderson and Chung as they tried to oust him from his position as the head of the Site. Allison, who remains in the top spot, was set to be quickly moved out of SRS work and to take the helm of DOE's Small Sites, according to e-mails and DOE documents. However, since allegations of threats and Allison's objections, he has not been moved.
Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title:
This is just another day in the life of the DOE upper management at SRS. Incompetence, cronyism, mismanagement -- most couldn't handle a job managing a McDonalds and should not be responsible for billions of taxpayer dollars. And getting worse.
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Posted by: On: Sunday, November 22, 2009 12:51 PM
Comment Title:
Nothing is being done. Because DOE is a mob. There is little to no oversight from the white house. Only those in the elite click get protection. If you think its any better within the contractors you are wrong. If you arent in the elite top few you are treated like a Piece of S**t. When SRS goes to hell in a handbag I hope the CSRA knows that it is only because of the leadership. They are micromanagers that abuse their employees and believe that they can get away with anything because they are "untouchable." Sounds like Areva isnt any better. Funny, the areas where Bechtel and WSRC are still functioning (SRR), you dont here about any of this. Probably because those companies know how to run the site. Flour hasnt the first clue. And its obvious. DOE is a mess and will continue to be a mob until "someone" gets a set and cleans house from the top down.
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Posted by: cs On: Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:35 AM
Comment Title: Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman
In an Aiken Std. article dated 11/4/09 it stated that Deputy Secretary Daniel "Poneman denied coming to SRS as a reaction to recent controversies, but rather as part of his tour". Why in the world was a tour of SRS more important than dealing with all this controversy? Doesn't Poneman realize those in charge at SRS are NOT professionals? All of this top management immature childish behavior is affecting us individuals and this community now! I would say the future of SRS is steadfastly becoming more and more unstable. I wanted to email this article to Poneman, but couldn't find an email address because the DOE website is down for upgrades and maintenance. Someone above and outside of the pro's in charge at SRS needs to address us regarding these deplorable issues. What's being done?
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Posted by: proud to be from here On: Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:45 AM
Comment Title:
The French who came here to work at SRS for Areva have such disdain for their American counterparts that it is sickening. I watch them speaking in their native language, thinking we Americans do not understand them. I let them think that, while hearing them speak condescendingly of us all. They truly do feel superior. If you work with these French Areva people, watch yourself. Major backstabbers. And, Helen....you are probably one of the French that have moved into our neighborhood, and do not even speak to the rest of us or wave as you go by. Yeah, if you call that cultured give me the U.S. any day. We do have manners here. Southern manners. Bless your little heart!
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:12 PM
Comment Title:
I've been to France a few times and they are snooty jackasses to pretty much everybody who isn't French.
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Posted by: Charles Cushman On: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:33 PM
Comment Title: Corruption is the way of life at SRS these days
Most of the responsibility for what is happening at SRS should go to Rep. Clyburn. For years Clyburn has used his position to intimate and force SRS to hire people only from his district and minorities. Being qualified for the job was secondary to being from Clyburn district or being a minority. See what you get when you don’t hire the most qualified people.
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Posted by: H Ray On: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:26 PM
Comment Title: A Workers Comments
I happen to work for SRNS and have had the opportunity to work with Ms. Nix for some time prior to her moving to her position as the contracting officer for ARRA funding. I would say that Ms. Nix has never been threaten to me nor have I ever felt she would threaten anyone. Ms Nix is very professional and very good at her job. What is missing here is the fact of what Ms. Nix job is. She is the contracting officer for the ARRA funding, this means she holds the purse strings. I am sure they would love to have her out of that job and spend the money however they want. At this point, they have to get her approvals to spend that money and I'm sure it doesn't please them that she is a honest and law abiding citizen. They also probably don't like that she is very outspoken and doesn't hold her tongue and won't be bullied by them! I for one would like to see those top officials taken out because if you start looking you will find that Ms. Nix is guilty of NOTHING but doing her job!
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Posted by: Charles Cushman On: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:22 PM
Comment Title: French have been continually demonized
If you believe saying the French are rude and arrogant is for purely political reasons you are the one that is totally ignorant. Yes the French helped us during the Revolutionary War but not because they liked us but because they hated the British. We also save their butts in both world wars. If not for the US they would be speaking German. The French are arrogant even to other the Europeans but much, much worse to Americans. I been there and seen it. Have you? The French has continually tried to sabotage the US from Iraq to Iran. Sounds like you are the one that is misinformed, and unable to have your own behavior subjected to serious scrutiny.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:28 PM
Comment Title:
The French have been continually demonized in the US over the past couple of years for purely political reasons if nothing else. Bogeymen are always the perfect scapegoat and are usually conjured up by those who are frightened, misinformed, and unable to have their own behavior subjected to serious scrutiny.
If the French hadn't come to our rescue in the Revolutionary War, we probably would be singing "Hail to the Queen" instead of the "Star Spangled Banner".
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:56 PM
Comment Title: Where is the money???
Corruption is the way of life at SRS these days. This is just the tip of the iceburg. Where is all the money Mr. Big-wig? Why are you trying to layoff 1000 employees when you just got 1.4 Billion taxpayer dollars? Why has work stopped? Why is everyone getting hurt? And please tell me why I have ARRA hired friends who have been sitting out on work sites for what seems like MONTHS, DOING NOTHING???? Tell me where my money is going DOE and SRNS? I pay taxes, I want to know. The whole DOE made for TV drama is enough to make me SICK. It just plays into the entire mess that has been created at SRS. Not to mention the fact there have been more safety situations out there that havent even been reported to the public. Twisted, crooked government. The Aiken Standard posted the earnings of DOE top officials, what are the earnings of top FLUOR executives? I heard someone say that it was posted in an SRS document Mr Munns made over $550,000 per year. Yeah, bravo DOE, Tax dollars hard at work. In the meantime, the citizens of the CSRA will just sit back unemployed while ya'll have a good time out there earning your elevated paychecks to do NOTHING but cat-fight in your elaborate offices.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:46 PM
Comment Title: Mr Gibson
Sir, before pulling the race card please educate yourself. First, the victims are black (you are correct) but so are the crooks. If you remember sir, Vince Adams has been in the paper before for corrupt behavior and teaming up with Cynthia Anderson (who is also black) and Rep. Clyburn (who is also black) to sway the spending of Recovery Act money to benefit "MINORITY OWNED (BLACK)" businesses with political special interests as well as, pushing to hire blacks with Recovery Act money regardless of qualifications or education (right down to forwarding black-owned resumes to HR and writing follow-up letters to get the status of the persons employment). Second, they (Anderson and Adams along with Inez Triay - who is of hispanic origin) threatened Jeff Allison (who is also black) because he cooperated with an IG investigation, which let me remind you, was looking into Anderson and Adams corrupt behavior relative to Recovery Act money at SRS. So Mr. Gibson, if you are going to pull the infamous race card, please make sure you have your ducks in a row. It has nothing to do with putting the "black man" on the cover of the paper sir. It has everything to do with the fact that the majority of the key players in the corruption of DOE and SRS are in fact, BLACK. Have you ever thought, that this could be a political move to divert attention from an investigation into corrupt behavior committed by Adams and is coop? Im not saying that is the case, but it does seem awfully funny. Cynthia Anderson goes on indefinite sick-leave, Rep. Clyburn writes a highly embarrassing letter to the editor (showing his ignorance while contradicting himself several times regarding his SRS/Recovery Act activities), and now, Adams is all of a sudden getting so called (death threats). Honestly, give me a break. They are banking on the fact that we are all morons, be smarter than that!
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Posted by: RON On: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:32 PM
Comment Title: SRS Management Problems
I think American companies should be the prime contractors at the site.The non-informed American public that was opposed to nuclear power for years; therefore we could not keep up with advancements in the nuclear field. That is the reason for the French being a SRS.
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Posted by: Charles Cushman On: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:37 PM
Comment Title: Helen, Uninformed post
Helen, I have traveled to France many times on business and to many other countries around the world. As you say there some friendly courteous French people. But out of all the counties I have visited the French are the rudest people by far. I agree they have a lot of culture but I saw very little of the courtesy and the intelligence you speak of. I was there numerous times on business and there is no way I would spend my money to vacation there.
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Posted by: cs On: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:14 PM
Comment Title: Thank You
Thank you Mike Gellatly for this article. Please continue to keep us informed: e.g. the good, the bad and the ugly. Knowledge is power.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 12:11 PM
Comment Title: It's been like this forever...
It's always been like this over there. Most people are pen-pushers anyway. Why is it now that this is being exposed?
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Posted by: cs On: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:38 AM
Comment Title: Give us locals more voice and control -
If these "professionals" were doing their jobs they wouldn't have time to squabble!!! I say listen to us, the average citizens, and replace them!! While they are sending stupid emails and filing complaints many of us good honest workers are waiting on results. I am collecting unemployment and want to be working. In 37 years I have never been out of a job until now - and no wonder with all this crap going on at the top levels. I am not to good for a shovel (even though I am an experienced journeyman). I just want to work. Me and mine might be blue collar but we have more professionalism in our little toes than the whole lot of those mentioned. Stand downs, freezes, violations, investigations, misappropriated funds & reports ... geez ... just do your job and what's right.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:36 AM
Comment Title:
Where did all the money go from the so called 'stimulous package', that was suppose to 'flood' the site, and bring jobs to the area? We are all still waiting~~and yes, the 'big whigs' are the most childish of them all. Clean house with peopl who want to work, need to work and appreciate a job!
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:29 AM
Comment Title:
Government hires and promotes the least common denominator and it is very apparent at the TOP all the way to the bottom at DOE..The Jeff Allison everybody is picking on me to these bozos mentality. FIRE them and get people that can actually do the job.
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Posted by: Helen On: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:24 AM
Comment Title: Uninformed post
Shame on the person who wrote disparagingly of the French employees out at SRS via Areva. Such nonsense you spout. Bet you've never been to France in your entire life. I have traveled all over the world and there is no single country that I've ever been to where I've been treated with more respect and courtesy than in France. I suggest you keep your ignorant comments to yourself rather than put them on this site - it only serves to make you sound like an ignorant little hillbilly. Or better yet, buy a ticket to France, spend a week there and maybe some of their culture, courtesy and intelligence will rub off on you. Dare to dream.
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Posted by: Laura On: Friday, November 20, 2009 11:17 AM
Comment Title: Embarrassing
First of all, I don't know if the info reported is, in fact, true - or just a combination of gossip, innuendo and hearsay. That being said, if it is fact, then someone - in major authority - needs to get in there FAST and start reading these people the riot act. This is NOT the way taxpayers expect a government run facility to behave, let alone one with the added responsibility of handling the sort of payload carried at SRS. Get it together people, you've still got jobs - well paying ones with benefits, at that. Step back for a minute and realize this country, the world, for that matter, has gone through a financial upheaval lately, and we all need to take a deep breath and have a little patience and realize that it will take a bit of time to get things back on track. Jeez...
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Posted by: 6Actual On: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:29 AM
Comment Title: If you're not concerned...
These are the folks that we allow to be in control of OUR nuclear materials.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:19 AM
Comment Title:
For you people that think the government can run our health care....SEE WE TOLD YOU SO
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 9:52 AM
Comment Title: ....sounds familiar
"Cut throat" "back stabbing" "incompetent management" "firing people to bring on their family" "dishonesty" "mistrust", dishonest contractors and feds" "collusion" "retaliation" "threats" "defamation" and on and on.
Sounds like the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project.
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Posted by: T. Winter Gibson On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:38 AM
Comment Title: Bad Intentions
Interesting to me that the people who are allegedly being threatened are the photos that are shown in today's paper. NOT THE PERSON(s) who are alleged to have done the threats. I find that odd. Headline reads "Unprofessional behavior plagues SRS," and the photo is NOT of the ones alleged to have done the unprofessional behavior (threats), but of the alleged victims. Just so happens that the victims are black. Surely Aiken Standard isn't trying to imply that it is the black people that are being threatened who are 'UNPROFESSIONAL.' Or are you? We're not stupid Mr. Editor. You should know better and should apologize to Mr. Adams and Ms. Anderson. If you're going to put pictures in the paper of folks who are alleged of doing something wrong, THEN PUT EVERYBODY'S PICTURE IN or don't put any at all. Shameful!!!
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:38 AM
Comment Title: People need a job
I been trying to get on at the site for 6 months now I have 20 yrs of military background and still can't get on, but they still keep hiring people who can't pass a pee test,,what is up with that,,I would be greatful to pickup a shoval at this point so I can keep a roof over my head and food in the house.
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Posted by: Mike needs a story On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:10 AM
Comment Title: Need a story
This isn't a story. Please find something to report on. This sounds like gossip from childern. This kind of action happens at all companies.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:09 AM
Comment Title: People need a job
At this point I would be greatful to pickup a shovel just to get a job to keep a roof over my head and food, I been trying to get a job at the site for 6 months now and still can't get a job because of the Management behavior. Lets put people to work first.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:04 AM
Comment Title:
Throw free money at people and they cannot handle the position. These people need to be replaced.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:03 AM
Comment Title:
The same type of people will be hired to run our new health care system..the same ones that have bankrupted Medicare, Medicaid, USPS and every other agency...buffoons and children will be hired.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 7:11 AM
Comment Title:
And the person in the picture is WHO???????????
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 7:10 AM
Comment Title: Areva=ulcers
This behavior is rampant out at the site, especially with the French who run the company Areva. They truly dislike Americans. Their unprofessional, condescending attitude toward American workers should not be tolerated. They are systematically, slowly pushing out the Americans and putting French {often relatives such as spouses} in their place. It is a very cut-throat place to work.........so watch your back out there fellow SRS employees!
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Posted by: Fiscl Conservative On: Friday, November 20, 2009 7:00 AM
Comment Title: Money Fights
What do you expect when they have tons of our tax money & are trying to shovel it to their own contractor friends and special projects? This mess underscores how SRS should not get another penny from big government after the clean up is done, which means no big-government financed reprocessing park (uh, nuclear dump) for Areva's socialist friends.
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Posted by: 2MuchBS4Me On: Friday, November 20, 2009 6:36 AM
Comment Title: Unprofessional behavior plagues SRS
Another unqualified person who got a position based on something other than their intelligence and qualifications. They can’t do the Job…it is taken away…and they cry Foul…Get him a shovel!!!
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Posted by: Sick of whiners On: Friday, November 20, 2009 6:17 AM
Comment Title: Cry babies
These people sound like children, fighting and tattling.
send them to Washington. They would be right at home with the Amateur Night at the Apollo administration.
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Posted by: Purple Phantom On: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:42 AM
Comment Title: Unprofessional Behavior
So, what else is new?
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Posted by: Sven On: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:25 AM
Comment Title: good report
This article will probably go national--and it should.
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:03 AM
Comment Title:
It's more visible here because it's a public entity rather than a private company, but it's no different than what goes on in any large corporation. It seems like the people at the top are almost always more interested in backstabbing, office politics, and turf wars than they are in doing their actual jobs. That's true across the corporate, academic, and government realms, and probably has been since the human race invented organizations larger than the family.
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Posted by: The Realist On: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:54 PM
Comment Title:
And you people want government to run healthcare?
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