An ex-apprentice electrician at the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment Plant in Richland, Wash., has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court against her former foreman and companies in charge of the facility.
Madalyn Jennings, of Yakima County, filed the litigation last month in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Jennings names as defendants General Foreman George “Buster” Elgin, Waste Treatment Completion Company LLC and Bechtel National.
WTCC is a joint venture of Bechtel and Amentum. Amentum declined comment.
“Bechtel does not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or discrimination of any kind and is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace,” Bechtel spokesperson Staci West said in a Tuesday email reply to Exchange Monitor. “Given that this matter is the subject of pending litigation, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.”
Jennings accuses her ex-boss of sexually harassing her and fostering a hostile work environment. She also accuses the corporate defendants of failing to adequately investigate her claims against Elgin and allowing her to be “blacklisted” from jobs around the Hanford complex, even after she received her “journeyman” certification.
Jennings also alleges her employer failed to provide her with “reasonable accommodation” after she injured a finger while on the job. The plaintiff alleges the company would not move her to another position away from Elgin.
Jennings alleges in the June 10 complaint that Elgin continually harassed her and claimed he was “untouchable” or “bulletproof” because his family had worked at Hanford for generations and had clout with the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“Ms. Jennings was employed by defendant employers as an apprentice electrician at the Hanford Vitrification Plant beginning in 2023,” according to the complaint. “She was the only female apprentice electrician at the plant, and from the outset, she was sexually harassed” by the defendant, Elgin, according to the document.
Jennings said she often complained but the company defendants took no action before eventually doing a “sham” investigation that found no wrongdoing by Elgin.
In September 2024, Jennings claims she underwent a “constructive discharge,” a legal term for when employees are effectively forced to leave because conditions are intolerable. The suit was first reported by the Tri-City Herald newspaper.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued Jennings a “right-to-sue” letter, according to the complaint. Jennings seeks damages for unpaid and lost wages, including back pay as well as punitive damages for emotional distress.