Contractor Fluor B&W Portsmouth, LLC, has cancelled planned layoffs after the site received a $76.4 million funding boost in cleanup funding over the previously enacted level of funding, FBP Site Project Director announced in a message to employees yesterday. Contractor officials had warned that without $92.5 million in additional about 675 layoffs could occur due in part to a drop in the price of uranium, which the Department of Energy has used to help fund cleanup. “I have cancelled the planned involuntary reduction in force,” Carr said. “I am able to take this action based upon the receipt of this supplemental funding, postponement of a number of planned small projects, our many volunteers who stepped forward to take a voluntary reduction to save other workforce members from a possible involuntary reduction, and the recent upswing in the uranium spot market price.”
About 50 workers have voluntarily chosen to leave the project since budget issues arose this summer, according to contractor officials, and numerous other factors came together to help FBP avoid layoffs. “This level of funding, together with the forecasted uranium barter proceeds, provides our project the necessary funds to continue with our efforts to complete the deactivation of the X-326 facility, ship the removed process gas equipment and advance a number of other D&D project initiatives,” Carr said.
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