DATE: March 4, 1992
CASE NO. 91-ERA-16


IN THE MATTER OF

BRIAN H. WILLIAMSON,

          COMPLAINANT,

v.

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY,

RESPONDENT.


BEFORE: THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
                             
                             
                     FINAL ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT
                             
    8efore me for review is the Recommended Order of
Dismissal, issued January 30, 1992, by the Administrative
Law Judge (ALJ) in this case, under the employee protection
provision of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as
amended (ERA). 42 U.S.C. ~ 5851 (1988). The ALJ found the
agreement fair, adequate and reasonable, see
Fuchko and Yunker v. Georgia Power Co., Case Nos.
89-ERA-9, 89-ERA-10, Sec. Order, Mar. 23, 1989, slip op. at
1-2, and recommended that the agreement be approved and the
case dismissed with full prejudice.
    Review of the Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement
reveals that it may encompass the settlement of matters under laws
other than the ERA. See e.g., Agreement first and second
unnumbered paragraphs, ¶ 2 and 4. As stated in Poulos
v. Ambassador Fuel Oil Co., Inc., Case No. 86-CAA-l,
Sec. Order, Nov. 2, 1987, slip op. at 2:
[The Secretary's] authority over settlement agreements is
limited to such statutes as are within tthe Secretary's]
jurisdiction and is defined by the applicable statute. 
See Aurich v. Consolidated Edison
Company of New York. Inc., Case No. ~86-}CAA-2,
Secretary's Order Approving 
[PAGE 2]
Settlement, issued July 29, 1987; Chase v. Buncombe
County. N.C., Case No. 85-SWD-4, Secretary' Order on
Remand, issued November 3, 1986.                             
                                                             
                           I have, therefore, limited my
review of the agreement to determining whether the terms
thereof are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of
Complainant's allegation that Respondent violated the ERA.
Upon review of the terms of the agreement signed by the
parties, and based on the record of this case, I find that
the agreement is fair, adequate and reasonable. I therefore
accept the ALJ's recommendation that the agreement be
approved. Accordingly, this case is DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE. SO ORDERED.

                           LYNN MARTIN
                           Secretary of Labor                
      


Washington, D.C.