WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), and Congressman James Comer (KY-01) praised the decision by the Department of Energy (DOE) to execute a new, long-term contract to continue deactivation and cleanup work at the Paducah DOE site. This contract was announced today by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry. Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC was awarded the nearly $1.5 Billion, 5-year contract (which includes additional multi-year options). The contract includes a 120 days transition period.
In a recent letter Senators McConnell, Paul and Representative Comer urged Secretary Perry to execute a new contract that provides long-term certainty for workers at the site. They also requested DOE to take steps to minimize any potential disruptions by ensuring a smooth transition between contracts. The current three-year contract is set to expire in July 2017. In the letter, the Kentuckians wrote that “a new, long-term contract for the next phase of work will help remove uncertainty for contract workers and make it easier to attract and retain a talented workforce in an effort to ensure projects at the site are completed in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.”
Senator McConnell said: “Today’s announcement by Secretary Perry regarding a new long-term contract is welcome news for the community and the employees at the Paducah DOE site. I applaud the Department for taking this important step which will benefit Paducah workers and I look forward to continuing our joint efforts to support workers and vital cleanup operations at the site.”
Senator Paul said: "This is wonderful news for the Paducah DOE site, their workers, and the surrounding western Kentucky communities. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of the community on this issue and support job creation throughout the Commonwealth.”
Congressman Comer said: “The Paducah DOE site is vital to the economy of western Kentucky and has been one of my top priorities. I’m pleased the Department of Energy, under Secretary Perry’s leadership, has awarded a long-term contract that will bring stability to the site, workforce, and community. I look forward to working with Secretary Perry, Senator McConnell, and Senator Paul to see that this important cleanup work continues in a timely and efficient manner.”