EXTENT OF SAVANNAH RIVER JOB CUTS REMAINS UNCLEAR

The extent of potential layoffs coming for workers at liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation has become even more uncertain, as the Department of Energy this week said recent reports warning of “hundreds” of layoffs were inaccurate. Tank waste cleanup at SRS was cut about $183 million in DOE’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget request, and the Aiken Standard last week reported that DOE Savannah River Site Manager Dave Moody said “there will be jobs lost in the hundreds before October.” Yesterday, DOE-SR spokesman Jim Giusti said in a written response, “As DOE has previously stated we are planning for an SRR workforce reduction. But the Aiken Standard article did not quote Dr. Moody’s comments correctly. DOE has no further comment.” SRR referred request for comment to DOE.