Babcock & Wilcox-led Nuclear Production Partners is giving up its fight for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12/Pantex contract, the company said yesterday. NP2 three times protested the NNSA’s selection of Bechtel-led Consolidated Nuclear Security for the $22.8 billion contract, but the Government Accountability Office in late February turned away its last challenge of the contract, limiting the company’s options. NP2 could have continued to fight for the contract in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, but the company would have had a difficult time stopping transition to CNS. “The current B&W-led teams at Y-12 and Pantex are fully engaged in supporting a smooth transition to the new contractor,” B&W said in a statement. “B&W is dedicated to ensuring this process is completed on time, safely and securely, with minimal disruption to current missions.”
B&W GIVES UP FIGHT FOR Y-12/PANTEX CONTRACT
CNS is in its third week of a four-month transition, and it is slated to take over management of the sites in July. “We are pleased by the news that B&W will not take further action in regard to the Pantex/Y-12 contract award,” CNS spokesman Jason Bohne said. “Their decision is an important step because it allows the workforces at Pantex and Y-12 to move forward with confidence. CNS is working at full speed, and we look forward to continuing to work productively with the B&W-led management teams at both sites to ensure an effective transition.”
Groups seek NEPA review of plan to issue surplus plutonium to private companies
The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) is demanding the Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conduct a public environmental review of plans to provide 19.7 metric tons of surplus weapons-grade plutonium to private nuclear companies. SCELP published the letter of demand Sept. 8 on behalf of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, […]