Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
5/2/2014
Leo Sain is stepping down as President and Project Manager of Oak Ridge cleanup contractor URS-CH2M Oak Ridge, LLC to return to a corporate role at URS. In his new position, announced this week, Sain will head up URS Global Management and Operations Services’ Decontamination and Decommissioning and Waste Management Strategic Business Group, which includes URS’ work at the East Tennessee Technology Park, as well at the Separations Process Research Unit; Hanford’s River Corridor Closure project, the Idaho Cleanup Project; Idaho’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project; and the Department of Energy’s two depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion plants. “UCOR’s success at ETTP has been a testament to Leo’s leadership and experience. His understanding of the nuclear industry and DOE complex will be invaluable as we work with the DOE and our partners to ensure success at each of our D&D and Waste Management projects,” URS spokesman Keith Wood said in a written response.
Before heading up UCOR, Sain held the position of Executive Vice President, Performance Assurance and Operations, for URS’ GMOS unit, where he was responsible for performance in high-level waste facilities across the DOE complex. He has served as UCOR president since it won the Oak Ridge cleanup contract in mid-2011, and during his tenure the contractor marked a major accomplishment with the completion of D&D activities at the K-25 former uranium enrichment process building. Sain will remain at UCOR, according to URS, until a successor is named. “The URS succession planning process has begun and should be completed in several weeks. His replacement will require approval by the DOE,” Wood said.
Sain’s tenure at UCOR was praised this week by Mark Whitney, Manager of the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. “Leo has been a tremendous asset to this project and I will miss the day-to-day interactions with him. He is a proven and effective leader, and the UCOR team has built a tremendous amount of momentum under Leo’s watch,” Whitney said in a statement. “We look forward to URS identifying a new president and project manager for UCOR, and we will ensure that person is a good fit. Leo has agreed to remain as a senior advisor to the project, and we’re confident that will provide a great deal of stability throughout the transition.”
