http://www.peer.org/news/print_detail.php?row_id=525
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility News Release
(www.peer.org)
May 16, 2005
Contact: Chas Offutt (202) 265-7337
“SCOTCHGARD” WHISTLEBLOWER
FILES FEDERAL COMPLAINT — Minnesota Scientist Cites Threats
By Ex-3M Executive Heading Pollution Agency
Washington, DC — A Minnesota state scientist has filed
a federal whistleblower complaint over threats, reprimands and
restraints against her for disclosing widespread contamination
stemming from release of chemicals used by the 3M Corporation
for 50 years in a number of popular consumer products, according
to a copy of the filing released today by Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
Scientist Fardin Oliaei, the coordinator for the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency program on emerging contaminants, sought to open
investigations into chemicals used in the manufacture of nationally
distributed products, such as Scotchgard, Teflon, Stainmaster
and Gore-Tex. Manufactured by 3M, the chemicals, known as perfluorochemical
compounds or PFCs, do not break down in the environment and bio-accumulate
in living tissue. While not yet categorized as a human carcinogen,
PFCs have caused birth defects and deaths in animal studies. 3M
began to phase out manufacture of the chemicals in 2000, but hundreds
of thousands of pounds remain in the environment.
After Dr. Oliaei discovered PFC contamination in half of the
fish she examined from what are considered pristine waters of
Voyageurs National Park, the agency denied her repeated request
to broaden the investigation. In recent weeks, the harassment
of Dr. Oliaei includes –
• A reprimand for comments she made
in an agency-approved interview with Minnesota Public Radio.
The agency now contends that Dr. Oliaei’s remarks lacked
proper “disclaimers,” misstated the agency position
and “dishonored the hard work” of colleagues; and
• An order forbidding her to supply
information requested by members of the State Legislature.
MPCA Commissioner Sheryl Corrigan, a former 3M executive, has
told Dr. Oliaei that there is no room in the agency for “scientific
work.” MPCA manager Marvin Hora also told Dr. Oliaei that
if she kept pushing the PFC issue “I will terminate the
program (emerging contaminants) and you are the only one in the
program.” Last week, on May 11th, Dr. Oliaei’s supervisor
asked “Why are you still here? If you really want to be
effective, you better get a job somewhere else.”
“Any employee who discloses pollution threats is protected
by law from shoot-the-messenger retaliation by her agency,”
stated Rockford Chrastil of the Minneapolis firm of Chrastil and
Steinberg who is serving as the lead attorney in the case. “Dr.
Oliaei should be commended not condemned for her research.”
Dr. Oliaei is seeking whistleblower protection under the Clean
Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, Superfund and other federal
toxic waste laws. The complaint triggers an immediate federal
investigation and, if the matter is not resolved in 30 days, a
full evidentiary hearing before a U.S. Department of Labor administrative
law judge will be scheduled.
“This is a whistleblower case of national significance,”
added PEER General Counsel Richard Condit, a leading whistleblower
attorney who is assisting in the case. “It boils down to
whether the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is supposed to
protect the public from toxic dangers or simply cover them up.”
###
-- Read Dr. Oliaei’s whistleblower complaint: Fardin
Oliaei v. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
-- See the reprimand
for her interview with Minnesota Public Radio
-- Look
at the MPR story
• Lettter
from Minnesota State Senator John Marty to Marvin Hora, Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).