URS-led consortium wins nuclear waste management contract in US

The US Department of Energy has awarded a contract to Nuclear Waste Partnership for the management and operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Nuclear Waste Partnership is a consortium between engineering, construction and technical services provider URS Corporation and Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, with the major subcontractor AREVA Federal Services.

As per the estimated $1.3bn contract, the URS-led Nuclear Waste Partnership will manage and operate WIPP beginning on 1 October 2012 for initial five-year period, with a potential extension of another five years.

The WIPP will safely manage, retrieve, characterise and dispose defense-related wastes in an effort to protect human health and the environment.

Nuclear Waste Partnership, which has a repository located in a 2,150ft-deep geologic salt formation, will coordinate the transportation of materials to WIPP and characterise incoming waste.

WIPP is certified for the safe and permanent disposal of transuranic radioactive waste, which is material contaminated with man-made radioisotopes that are heavier than uranium.

The Babcock & Wilcox Company provides clean energy technology and services, primarily for the nuclear, fossil and renewable power markets, as well as defense contractors.

Headquartered in San Francisco, URS provides services for infrastructure, power, federal programme and industrial and commercial projects.