Sep 13 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Gary Libow The Hartford Courant, Conn.

The state Department of Public Utility Control has ordered the owner of the Millstone nuclear power plant to provide a whistleblower -- whose job was axed during a corporate restructuring -- office space until he accepts another post within the company.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone, which wanted Sham Menta reinstated to his old job of recording employee concerns, was highly critical of the DPUC.

"DPUC is required by state law to protect nuclear whistleblowers," Nancy Burton, coalition president, said in a prepared statement. "In today's decision, DPUC let a courageous Millstone employee down."

In a draft decision issued Tuesday, the DPUC ordered Dominion Nuclear Connecticut to treat Menta as an active employee of the Waterford-based nuclear plant.

The anti-Millstone coalition is urging state legislators to investigate the DPUC's draft decision and alleged flaws in Millstone's security system.

Menta, on paid administrative leave since, had his old job eliminated by Dominion.

Menta filed a report in 2004 raising safety and security concerns at the plant to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Menta alleged that Millstone officials deactivated the plant's electronic security system to avoid false alarms. He claims Dominion retaliated by reorganizing his old department and giving him poor performance reviews.

The crux of the DPUC's decision, agency spokeswoman Beryl Lyons said, is that Menta is a whistleblower whose employment with Dominion is protected.

Lyons, noting it's impossible to reinstate Menta to a job that no longer exists, said the DPUC's draft decision is scheduled to be finalized Sept 27.

 

An Associated Press report was included in this story.