Tuesday, August 31, 1999
Fernald contractor wins praise
Fluor Daniel bids to continue cleanup
The Associated Press
Taxpayers would be better served if the company managing the government's cleanup of radioactive wastes at the Fernald site wins the contract to complete the job, a labor leader said Monday.
Fluor Daniel Fernald Inc. has worked effectively with 14 trade unions involved in the cleanup, and there could be a costly delay if the government switches contractors now, said Gene Branham, vice president of the Fernald Atomic Trades and Labor Council, a coalition of the unions.
“They have expedited the cleanup program. They have proceeded in a safe manner,” Mr. Branham said.
Fluor Daniel said Monday it will bid for what is expected to be the final cleanup contract at the former uranium processing plant.
The Energy Department has paid the company an average of $17.2 million annually since Fluor Daniel beat out two other finalists for the contract in 1992.
The company, a unit of the Fluor Corp. engineering company based in Irvine, Calif., has listened to the concerns of neighbors in handling the potentially hazardous cleanup work, said Lisa Crawford, president of Fernald Residents for Environmental Safety and Health.
“We have a seat at the table and feel very comfortable,” Mrs. Craw ford said.
Early in the company's contract, federal auditors criticized Fluor Daniel for wasting money or failing to properly manage some aspects of the work. In 1996, Fluor Daniel's pilot plant for using high heat to reduce radioactive wastes to glass chunks for long-term disposal caught fire and had to be shut down. The Energy Department has said that part of the project will be assigned to another company.
Fluor Daniel's contract as general cleanup contractor at the 1,050-acre site expires Nov. 30, 2000. The Energy Department plans to solicit bids next year.
Department officials expect the contract to be the last one because the cleanup is targeted for completion by the end of 2006.
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