US$67 million nuclear contract award

The US Department of Energy has awarded a contract valued at US$67 million (€46 million) to the Washington Division of URS Corporation for the deactivation and demolition of the Separations Process Research Unit (SPRU) at Niskayuna, New York. The plant was in operation from 1950 to 1953, functioning as a pilot plant to research chemical processes required to extract uranium and plutonium from irradiated uranium. The contract is expected to last four years, and the terms cover the deactivation, demolition and removal of process facilities and adjacent contaminated soil associated with the plant's operation.

In a statement, president of URS Washington Division Stephen G Hanks said: “This award underscores the Washington Division's leadership position in safely managing complex, high hazard projects and operations. For more then half a century, we have successfully performed similar work for the DoE, its predecessor agencies and commercial nuclear companies.