Fluor-B&W Portsmouth held a town hall meeting at the Scioto County Welcome center Monday to further introduce themselves to the community and the work they are and will be doing. During the meeting participants were able to meet with senior staff and ask questions.

“We’re finding out tonight what’s happening in the community. All of our people (Fluor-B&W Portsmouth staff) are listening. We’re here to also talk about what we are doing and what we will be doing at the plant,” said Jamie Jameson, Program Manager with Fluor-B&W Portsmouth. “We care about this community. If we can get that across to them, and when we start the bigger program and get things moving out there. I think we will have keener interest, and that’s one of the big reasons for these town halls.”

In August 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $2 billion contract to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth for Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. A stipulation of the contract being awarded was that a Community Commitment Plan had to be developed. Recently Fluor-B&W Portsmouth released details of the plan.

The D&D contract is for 10 years, with a possible five-year extension based on performance and need.

The plan states the company Fluor-B&W Portsmouth will invest five percent of the contract amount in a four-county region (Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Ross counties.) “We will use these funds to establish a community commitment fund. Through this fund, we will target 80 percent to economic development and 20 percent to charitable giving initiatives that provide the greatest impact to the region,” the plan outlines.

Fluor-B&W Portsmouth estimated the investment to be $1.3 million per year.

As a part of the community commitment, Fluor-B&W Portsmouth has committed to educational outreach through initiatives such as partnerships, scholarships, workforce development and public understanding.

The plan states the company will target 12 scholarships per year worth $240,000 over the life of the D&D contract.

Over the next week the management of Fluor-B&W Portsmouth will be traveling to Jackson, Pike and Ross counties to hold similar town hall meetings.

On March 29, Fluor-B&W Portsmouth assumed leadership of the Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County.  Jameson said he is hopeful that by July 1 the necessary staff will be in place.

For more information about Fluor-B&W Portsmouth visit www.fbportsmouth.com.