OSHA Cites Champlain Valley Equipment in Federal Whistleblower Complaint

Sep 14, 2023

On Aug. 24, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) announced it has ordered Vermont dealer Champlain Valley Equipment to reinstate an employee the agency said was wrongfully terminated and pay more than $145,000 in back wages, damages and the employee’s attorneys’ fees.

According to OSHA, the employee reported Champlain Valley to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in June 2022 after observing the company pumping wastewater from its service bays at its Berlin, Vt., facility onto ground adjacent to the Winooski River. The employee, who also notified their supervisors at Champlain Valley of the situation, was terminated shortly after.

The employee subsequently filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA, and the agency’s investigation determined that Champlain Valley had violated the whistleblower provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA).

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Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.