The Raid and a Runaway Grand Jury

In my previous newsletter, I talked about how former FBI agent Jon Lipsky (now retired), led the investigation into criminal environmental crimes at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. That 1989 investigation, conducted in conjunction with the EPA, led to one of the most infamous FBI raids in U.S. history and a shocking grand jury investigation. It eventually ended production at Rocky Flats.

The specifics of the raid are detailed in my book Full Body Burden: Living in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats. With the production of the forthcoming film Full Body Burden: The Documentary (premiering Spring 2024), we recently had a chance to interview Jon Lipsky at length on camera.

Months of investigative work, including a high-risk flight in a “puddle-jumper” plane over the armed plant site, provided infrared photography and the evidence the FBI and EPA needed. On the morning of June 6, 1989, FBI agent Jon Lipsky drove through the gate of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant with a search warrant in his pocket and a .357 by his side. Outside the gate stood a line of vehicles holding more than 70 FBI and EPA agents waiting for a green light. Rockwell, operators of the plant, had no advance warning of what was about to happen -- but in an agreement between the DOJ, the DOE, and the EPA, the DOE agreed that security guards at Rocky Flats would not interfere with raiding officials. No one would get shot.

Lipsky entered the small administration building (note to reader: when I worked at Rocky Flats, I worked in this building!). No one stopped him. He rapped on the door of the conference room twice, then entered.