Employees for the Energy Department’s remediation contractor at the Portsmouth Site in Ohio were advised recently that they would face a 14-day self-quarantine following travel to a handful of states hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a July 29 memo to employees, Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth said anyone who visits states listed in Ohio’s travel advisory will not be allowed to re-enter the Portsmouth Site until the isolation period is completed.
“Those who can telework can still do so during this time-frame,” according to company, which indicated the policy took effect Aug. 3.
A similar memo was sent July 29 by Mid-America Conversion Services to its employees at the Portsmouth Site and the Paducah Site in Kentucky, who are also required to follow the travel guidances from the governors of those states. Mid-America is a partnership of Atkins, Westinghouse, and Fluor. It manages the depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion facilities at both former gaseous diffusion plants.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) recommended self-quarantine for individuals who travel to states reporting positive testing rates of 15% or higher for COVID-19. The Ohio Department of Health has posted a travel advisory listing the affected states, which is updated every Wednesday.
The four states listed on the restricted list as of Wednesday were Mississippi (27.4% infection rate), South Carolina (21.1%), Texas (16.3%), and Idaho (16.1%). The Energy Department’s Idaho National Laboratory, Savannah River Site (S.C.), and Pantex Plant (Texas) are located in states with Ohio’s listed high infection rates. Nevada, home to the Nevada National Security Site, was on the travel advisory list in prior weeks but has fallen off.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) also recently urged self-quarantine for people traveling to the “high-risk” states, his state defines that as having an infection rate of 15% or higher. It did not appear that the Kentucky site is being updated as regularly. A July version still listed Georgia as being in the risky category.
The rate of those testing positive is based on seven-day rolling averages as reported by state health agencies. The Ohio travel advisory said there was insufficient information this week to determine an accurate rate for Washington state, home of the Hanford Site.
While in quarantine, after traveling to one of the states in the advisory, Fluor-BWXT workers will not be eligible for COVID-leave pay under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Instead, the affected workers must take paid time off or leave without pay if telework is not an option, according to the company memo.
Fluor-BWXT employs about 1,900 people at the former gaseous diffusion plant site. Sources have previously indicated there have been a couple positive coronavirus tests at Portsmouth this year.
Mid-America employs a total of 500 workers split between Portsmouth and Paducah.
