Faced with finished projects and diminished federal funding, Savannah River Remediation on Monday asked interested workers to leave the company voluntarily.
The liquid waste cleanup contractor for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site sent a letter to full-time workers offering a week's pay for every eligible year of employment, up to 26 weeks.
Eligible employees also would be able to take advantage of the optional retirement provision of the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Multiple Employer Pension Plan. Medical coverage was also offered under the DOE Displaced Workers Medical Benefits Program. Employees will have about two weeks to consider the offer, with most of those taking it departing by the end of October.
"SRR has accomplished much since taking over as the SRS liquid waste contractor in July 2009. However, as some projects come to a close and budgets continue to be reduced, we have to realign our workforce to ensure we have the right skills on the right jobs," the letter read.
The Augusta Chronicle reported primary contractor SRNS offered a similar buyout in August. By that point, 1,065 jobs had been cut at the site, out of a reduction of 1,400 approved in 2010.