Wisconsin senator calls for investigation over barrel recycling plant

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has called on multiple federal agencies for investigations and swift action regarding whistleblower accounts and media reports of hazardous materials at barrel recycling plants operating under the name Earth Minded Lifecycle Services that may have endangered workers and communities in Wisconsin.

The letters sent follows an in-depth report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that went into detail about the alleged dangerous situation many employees have been subjected to at the company’s drum reconditioning/recycling facility in in Milwaukee.

Following the publishing of the report, Baldwin, along with House Rep. Gwen Moore, sent letters to multiple federal government agencies requesting they take quick action over the company’s operations.

The agencies receiving the letters were the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to a news release from Baldwin’s office, the letter sent to the DOJ requested that Attorney General Jeff Sessions provide an update on the status of the DOJ’s investigation of whistleblower reports and urged swift movement on appropriate actions.

In their letter to the EPA,  Baldwin and Moore call for an investigation into the apparent violation of federal environmental protections and asked the agency to determine if there were federal resources available to help workers and the surrounding communities that may have been harmed by hazardous chemicals.

In the letter to the DOT, Baldwin and Moore urge Secretary Chao to investigate the apparent violation of federal law that requires safe transportation of hazardous materials, and to take action to end any imminent threat to workers and the community.

In their letter to the SEC,  Baldwin and Moore call on the agency to investigate the reported allegations to determine whether the company that owns the recycling plants in question has violated any federal financial securities laws, which require publicly traded companies to inform their shareholders of risks, including risks from environmental hazards.

In the letter to OSHA, Baldwin and Moore call on the agency to investigate the accounts of a hazardous and unsafe workplace that failed to protect workers from serious short-term hazards and long-term health impacts, and to determine if there are federal resources available to help workers who may have been harmed.

Multiple calls to the owner of the barrel recycling plant were not returned.

Update. Friday, Feb. 23, Greif released a statement addressing the issue with its barrel drum recycling facility. Click here to read the statement.