The $2.1 billion contract awarded this week by the U.S. Department of Energy to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth LLC for cleanup at the Piketon A-Plant site carries more good economic news than just the paychecks going to 350 to 500 new workers expected to be hired over the next three years.

Bob Walton, chairman of the local Southern Ohio Port Authority, said the organization worked with Fluor officials when they were putting together their bid for the contract. Last October they signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” calling on Fluor to use goods and services provided by local businesses in southern Ohio as much as possible.

Fluor-B&W Portsmouth LLC is led by Fluor and includes Babcock & Wilcox.

“We actually have a formal agreement signed between the port authority and Jamie Jamerson, who is the project manager for Fluor Portsmouth LLC, that they will work with local communities so businesses can benefit from those billions of dollars that are going to be spent,” Walton said. “Fluor put in their proposal that they would subcontract for 30 percent of the total project value in support of goods and services to be provided — wherever possible — by small businesses in the region.”

Fluor is no stranger to accomplishing environmental cleanup at a former nuclear site.

From 1992 to 2006, Fluor executed nuclear cleanup work at the DOE’s Fernald Site near Cincinnati. It worked closely with the community in turning the site into a wildlife refuge. The project was originally estimated to take as much as 27 years to complete at a cost of $12.2 billion. Fluor Fernald completed the cleanup years ahead of schedule and billions of dollars under projected budget, according to Bruce Stanski, president of Fluor’s Government Group.

“We are extremely proud to be chosen by the DOE for this important and strategic work at the Portsmouth site,” Stanski said in a prepared statement. “Fluor’s track record of success within the DOE Complex at Savannah River, Hanford and Fernald are testaments to our ability to achieve significant project milestones while maintaining industry-leading safety standards. Our entire team stands ready to begin work and help accomplish the DOE’s vision for an expedited cleanup and job creation.”

“Fluor is going to work with the port authority to help us further our economic development goals,” Walton said. “Those include generating jobs, expanding local businesses and bringing new businesses into Scioto County. We have been talking with them for a couple of years about specifics.”

The contract awarded Fluor includes decontamination and decommissioning of the three massive uranium enrichment process buildings at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

“Fluor Portsmouth will be a responsible corporate citizen and will strive to leave a positive legacy for the regional community when the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant D&D project is complete,” Walton said. “The company will invest its corporate resources into workforce and business development activities to help regional economic development agencies such as the port authority.”

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 35303101, ext. 236.