BECHTEL NATIONAL SAYS SOME FURLOUGHS AVERTED AT HANFORD WTP

Bechtel National has been able to avert at least one week of possible furloughs at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant thanks to Congress’ recent approval of a Department of Energy request to shift funds among cleanup projects. The request, in part, shifted approximately $115 million from the WTP’s Pretreatment Facility, where work has largely been halted in response to technical issues, to the other portions of the plant. Last month, BNI warned employees that two weeks of furloughs—one in July and one in late August—may be necessary if the request was not approved. “We have taken great care to reduce spending to minimal levels necessary to meet our commitments to our customer and maintain safety, while not impacting employees. Because of these efforts, we are able to avert the first potential furlough that was scheduled for July,” BNI Project Manager Frank Russo said in a message to employees late last week.

However, BNI has not fully ruled out yet the possibility of furloughs this fiscal year. “Out of an abundance of caution, we will withhold announcements about any additional FY2013 actions until the process is complete and we receive direction from DOE about our FY2013 funding,” Russo said in his May 17 message.  “We will continue to reduce travel and overtime to the minimum level necessary to execute the work. Additionally, with respect to hiring, we are reviewing open positions on a case-by-case basis and will be hiring replacements selectively. We will continue to manage work executed by our subcontractors and suppliers and impacts on current and potential suspensions.”