McQuade v. Oak Ridge Operations Office, USDOE, ARB Nos. 01-093 and 01-094, ALJ Nos. 1997-CAA-7 to 10 (ARB Nov. 28, 2001)

U.S. Department of Labor

Administrative Review Board 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210

ARB CASE NOS. 01-093
    01-094
ALJ CASE NOS. 99-CAA-7
    99-CAA-8
    99-CAA-9
    99-CAA-10

DATE: November 28, 2001

In the Matter of:

DENNIS MCQUADE, COMMIE R. BYRUM,
VIRGINIA JOHNSON, and KENNETH WARDEN,
   COMPLAINANTS,

    v.

OAK RIDGE OPERATIONS OFFICE,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY,
    RESPONDENT.

BEFORE: THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD¹

Appearances:
For the Complainants:
    Loring E. Justice, Esq.,
       Whelchel, May & Associates, Knoxville, Tennessee

For the Respondent:
    Ivan Boatner, Esq.,
       U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

   A Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a recommended decision in this case arising under the employee protection provisions of seven environmental statutes,² finding in favor of the Complainants (Dennis McQuade, Commie R. Byrum, Virginia Johnson, and Kenneth Warden) on most issues and against Respondent Oak Ridge Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). McQuade v. Oak Ridge Operations Office, ALJ Nos. 1999-CAA-00007, 1999-CAA-00008, 1999-CAA-00009, 1999-CAA-00010 (July 31, 2001). Both the Complainants and the Respondent appealed various aspects of the ALJ's recommended decision to the Administrative Review Board.

¹ This appeal has been assigned to a panel of two Board members, as authorized by Secretary's Order 2-96. 61 Fed. Reg. 19,978 §5 (May 3, 1996).

² The Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §2622 (1994)(TSCA); the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §1367 (1994)(WPCA); the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §300j-9(i) (1994)(SDWA); the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. §6971 (1994)(SWDA); the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7622 (1994)(CAA); the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §9610 (1994)(CERCLA) and the Energy Reorganization Act, 42 U.S.C. §5851 (1995)(ERA)(collectively, "the environmental statutes").