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jakester

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Zion
« on: Apr 28, 2005, 06:57 »
With all of the talk of new plants, and the restart of Brown's Ferry 1, why not restart the Zion plant???

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #1 on: Apr 28, 2005, 08:03 »
Browns Ferry never gave up the Operating License. Zion did. It's easier to build a new nuke than to get the license back.

Also the plant was a lemon and the hard core union attitude just about drove it under.

The plant had a capacity fafctor of under 50 % and in 6 years or less they were going to have to replace their S/Gs

Mike

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Re: Zion
« Reply #2 on: Apr 28, 2005, 08:09 »
"Hard core union attitude drove it under".....that's a good one. 
  That was the big union/nmanagement issue.  The things that ruined Zion were problems on both ends, not just union sided.  Get your facts straight.  I was there.  Were you?


(Personal attacks deleted-RT)
« Last Edit: Apr 28, 2005, 08:42 by Roll Tide »

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Re: Zion
« Reply #3 on: Apr 29, 2005, 08:45 »
I too worked there on three occassions, I cut my teeth in the business at that plant.  There were definitely difficulties on both sides of labor at that plant.  I think it would  be worth looking into the cost of startup vs. building a new facility, if not already studied, even though both options would be expensive.

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #4 on: Apr 29, 2005, 07:06 »
Oops, I erred and I'm sorry. I should have been more specific. I implied the Union at ComEd was entirely at fault. It certainly wasn't the only thing thing that decided the plants fate. I know it wasn't. The Union management relations were a big factor and I know I wasn't there, but I do know one of the people who had to make the decision so I know of ALL the factors that went into it.

I did oversimplify on one of the issues and I apologize.

Mike

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Re: Zion
« Reply #5 on: Apr 29, 2005, 08:20 »
IF we get new plants built and operating IAW the 2010 goal, I will be very happy. Can you imagine the people that decided to shutdown Zion and Maine Yankee coming into the control room of one of the next generation plants? It sounds like a takeoff of Dilbert; specifically when former dot.com executives visit real jobsites! (No offense intended to our beloved Rennhack dot.com, of course!)

I am sure there were convincing reasons for both, but can you imagine a hall of fame for the early decomms? Of all the plants to close in the past ten years, I believe only Big Rock Point closure would be justified today, based on current economic data and that is only due to their small size.

A big part of upper management is making decisions and living with them. I am sure the DC Cook management sometimes wondered if they had taken a wrong turn before dual unit return to power. Now they are fairly vindicated, but even more so when new plants start construction!
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Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #6 on: Apr 29, 2005, 11:17 »
The sad part about Maine Yankee is there was nothing wrong with that plant. It was a classic case of anti nukes taking advantage of a regulation, combinedd with a new management who would rather not prove what they already knew.

Zion was a junk plant. It never had a good operating record, and the events that led to SER 9-97 showed the management, combined with the Operating staff shouldn't have been anywhere near a nuke unit.

Mike

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Re: Zion
« Reply #7 on: Apr 29, 2005, 11:44 »
I knew guys from both Maine Yankee and Zion, and while your analysis is harsh for Zion it is understandable. Still, can you imagine shutting down a two-unit site with about 1,000 MWe per plant under today's environment? Significantly smaller plants have had license renewal! Call me a hopeless romantic if you must, but I have to believe all of the problems could have been taken care of.
 
Disclaimer: I wasn't at Zion site, and I am speaking mostly from my standpoint as a staunch pro-nuke. I know people that did work there, and also people who were offered jobs there and decided that they would rather sit home and wait for something else! Regardless of that, the site had a good location in relation to the grid and
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Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #8 on: Apr 30, 2005, 09:08 »
Look at it this way. I'm not being harsh about the Management and staff. What they did in SER 9-97 was unforgivable and showed a shocking lack of even basic understanding of Nuclear Safety.

Here's an alternative to looking at Zion as being 2 1000 MWe units. The lifetime capacity factor of both units up till the time of the Zion Event was around 45% if that. So in effect it was ONE 900 MWe plant. Since it wasn't reliable, or run reliably even that 900 MWE wasn't available when it needed to be. In an era where capacity and availability factors were rising almost exponentially throughout the industry Zions was actually LOWERING. In fact her availibility factor was lower than her capacity factor.

Both units had S/Gs that were slowly turning into junk, and since it was Com Eds fault they were going to have to foot the whole bill. They'd have to replace 8 SG/s within 7 years (and that's a Rose Colored Glasses Number) for units that

1: They were having people problems with that weren't being solved.

2: Had never produced enough electricity to be profitable

3: Even when operating were always on the verge of a SCRAM or TS Shutdown.

4: Were going to cost Com Ed a LOT of money just to get back to a baseline condition.

5: Where the staff didn't understand basic nuclear safety.

I can see why they just pulled the plug.

Mike

astronuke

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Re: Zion
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2005, 06:16 »
What is the status of Rancho Seco in California?  Could it be brought back online if a miracle occurred and the voters (or Arnold) allowed it?  I never heard if the plant was decommissioned or just defueled and put on ice.

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2005, 09:09 »
Same as Zion. They gave up the Operating License. Once you do that you're not going to get it back.

Mike

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Re: Zion
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2005, 10:55 »
Zion had actually started procuring replacement steam generators prior to making the decision to pull the plug on the plant.  The forgings that Zion ordered for the RSG's ended up in D.C. Cook.
There are the Habs, and the Hab nots.

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2005, 12:34 »
Wasn't there also talk about revamping one of the Units and shutting down the other?

Mike

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Re: Zion
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2005, 12:40 »
I can't remember if they were ordering generators for one unit or both.  My gut says it was one unit.
There are the Habs, and the Hab nots.

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Re: Zion
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2005, 10:57 »
I realize there were problems at Zion. I also know that "facts" changed over time at other plants:

When I was hired at Turkey Point in 1996, one of the "facts" was the plants would be shutdown if the S/G's required replacement again. The SGRP had cost as much as the original construction, and they weren't going to do it again, and this was a fact at that time. The plant had a negative history, but was much better in the 90's.
Rate analysis said the cheapest power source in S. FLA. was combined cycle natural gas powered units, so those would be put in place if Turkey Point Nuclear was shutdown.
With the current demand for natural gas and electricity, Turkey Point is viewed as a gold mine instead of marginally profitable. It turns out S/G are a good investment!   ;D


When TVA shut down all nuclear plants (who said hiring an Admiral was the way to fix TVAN anyway!) it decided to start them back up one at a time. The "facts" at the time were that there wasn't enough demand to restart BFN1, and even if demand picked up it would be cheaper to use fossil fuel. Now over $1 Billion is being spent to restart Browns Ferry Unit 1, in response to increased demand for electricity and concerns over air pollution in the Smoky Mountains. The next step is consideration of new nuclear generation for TVA and license extension for all TVAN that doesn't have it yet.  :D

The facts at the time of Zion's closure made sense; I wonder if the decision would be different today with the new facts?  ???
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Re: Zion
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2005, 11:05 »
Over the years, the word on S/G's for Zion was ever changing.  One year it would be for both units.  The next year it would be just one unit.  To be honest, I can't recall if they intended to get them for both units, just one, or for neither.  That's the nature of working for Exelon Corp.....they always keep you guessing.

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Re: Zion
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2005, 02:25 »
About a month ago I heard a rumor that Zion has ordered new generators (this rumor was from one of the local Unions; not in the nuclear community).  After some asking around I heard Zion plant managment (friend-of-a-friend) said it was not true.  No new generators or statup planned.

As for the post on Ranch Seco, there is little hope of restarting that becasue of the extent it has been shut down.  There probably is another thread on the decommissioning status, but I understand internals are ready to be chopped up any day.

Slick
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Re: Zion
« Reply #17 on: Dec 15, 2007, 07:17 »
About a month ago I heard a rumor that Zion has ordered new generators (this rumor was from one of the local Unions; not in the nuclear community).  After some asking around I heard Zion plant managment (friend-of-a-friend) said it was not true.  No new generators or statup planned.

As for the post on Ranch Seco, there is little hope of restarting that becasue of the extent it has been shut down.  There probably is another thread on the decommissioning status, but I understand internals are ready to be chopped up any day.

Slick

December 11, 2007 – EnergySolutions, Inc. (NYSE: ES), signed an agreement today with Exelon Corporation to accelerate the decommissioning and environmental restoration of the Zion Nuclear Power Station site located in Zion, Illinois. Pending Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval, EnergySolutions, Inc. expects to take possession of the facility in 2008 to begin decommissioning.

“This project launches our license stewardship strategy whereby we conduct decommissioning and site restoration work as both owner and licensee,” said Steve Creamer, CEO of EnergySolutions. “Under this program we will utilize the unique capabilities and facilities of EnergySolutions to reduce project schedules, increase the efficiencies of the decommissioning process and better control project costs.”

The decommissioning of the Zion Nuclear Power Station will be substantially accelerated under this agreement. When the decommissioning work is completed and independently verified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, hundreds of acres of lakefront property will be available for other uses. The decommissioning will be performed using state-of-the-art technology and rigorous environmental controls to protect human health and the environment and to preserve the lakefront and wetlands properties.

ddklbl

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Re: Zion
« Reply #18 on: Dec 15, 2007, 11:20 »
A few thoughts on this thread...

Do they intend to scrap their "synchronous condensor".  Their website mentions how invaluable they are to grid stability.  Is that a bunch of smoke and mirrors? 

Second, from way up top in this thread: how do commercial plants evaluate capacity and availability factors.  You cannot have AF < CF.  Breaker to breaker runs still have to have downpowers for maintanance and it takes time on startups and shutdowns to get to or from full power (nit-picky, I know).  The plant availability time will always be more than the time you operated it at full capacity.

I've read on some plants public websites that they have capacity factors greater than one  ???  Making some assumptions that a plant on an 18 month cycle takes two weeks to refuel, then it would have had a maximum AF of 0.97 (i.e. 76 weeks divided by 78 weeks).  So, how could you get the plant to operate at capacity when she had on fuel in her?

Quote
In 2000, Unit 2 established a new unit generation record of 10,337,818 mwh. The previous record for the unit was 10,310,828 established in 1997.
Unit 2's year end capacity factor set a new record for the plant at 102.4%, surpassing the old record of 101.2% set in 1997. Capacity factor is a unit's actual output of electricity as a percentage of its maximum potential output.

Are they using post power uprate numbers versus pre-power uprate machine limits?  Either way, it's disingenuous.  But, hey, consider the source.

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #19 on: Dec 16, 2007, 11:20 »
They figure out average environmental conditions for the area. From this they figure out the Maximum Dependable Capacity of your plant. It's a weighted average of what you expect due to variations in river or heat sink temperatures. This is the what your Capacity Factor will be based on. If you have a cold winter your capacity factor will go up. Usually they are not weighted so a hot summer will really hurt you much as the Hotter numbers are rarely based on any number except that which you'd have to shut the plant down anyway.
Downpowers are usually of short enough duration they don't really hurt your number.

Note when a plant is exceeding 100% Capacity Factor it is not operating at greater than 100% Thermal Power. It merely means the turbine/generator end is operating more better!

Mike

ddklbl

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Re: Zion
« Reply #20 on: Dec 16, 2007, 04:06 »
They figure out average environmental conditions for the area. From this they figure out the Maximum Dependable Capacity of your plant. It's a weighted average of what you expect due to variations in river or heat sink temperatures. This is the what your Capacity Factor will be based on. If you have a cold winter your capacity factor will go up. Usually they are not weighted so a hot summer will really hurt you much as the Hotter numbers are rarely based on any number except that which you'd have to shut the plant down anyway.
Downpowers are usually of short enough duration they don't really hurt your number.

Note when a plant is exceeding 100% Capacity Factor it is not operating at greater than 100% Thermal Power. It merely means the turbine/generator end is operating more better!

Mike

Acadamia defines capacity factor as the integrand of actual thermal power over maximum thermal power for a given time period.  The NRC has a similar definition, only to use MWe compared to the maximum possible. 

By what you're saying, the Utilities have cooked up a third definition based on plant efficiency, river temps, dependability ???, other smoke and mirrors and not raw power output.  Raising efficiency will not raise your maximum output.  It just  takes less effort to get there.  I stand by what I said earlier, it seems disingenous.  Like they are either hiding something or straight out lying to their shareholders. 

Common sense alone would question how you could have a CF or AF greater than 1. 

Fermi2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #21 on: Dec 16, 2007, 06:35 »
Actually no, the Industry didn't come up with it. It's an NRC Term and is required to be filed IAW the UFSAR. I don't really give a flying R*Ts A** if you like it. MDC is the real world term that is used to figure out capacity factor.

Mike

ddklbl

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Re: Zion
« Reply #22 on: Dec 17, 2007, 06:22 »
so dependable,...subtle like a brick enema,... 8)

::)

Either I can't ask a question that sufficiently conveys my hang-ups or we are all a bunch of jacka$$es.  Now that the cheerleaders are here, this thread has outlived it's usefulness. 







Modified for spelling (yeah spelling).  hc
« Last Edit: Dec 17, 2007, 06:25 by honeycomb »

Offline nowhereman

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Re: Zion
« Reply #23 on: Aug 02, 2008, 04:57 »
Has anyone heard of anything blowing in the wind about Zion's decommissioning(other than the basics of EnergySolutions having the contract), say....any RP/FSS subcontracts ?

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Re: Zion
« Reply #24 on: Aug 02, 2008, 10:04 »
Either I can't ask a question that sufficiently conveys my hang-ups or we are all a bunch of jacka$$es.  Now that the cheerleaders are here, this thread has outlived it's usefulness. 

This is why new people RUN FROM POSTING :-[  Sorry for the "Cheerleaders"


Hereinnc

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Re: Zion
« Reply #25 on: Aug 04, 2008, 07:33 »
I thought this topic was on Zion?  With the decommissioning activities building can anyone provide some contacts for the HP/Alara/Rad Engineering aspects of the scope?  Also can anyone provide some information on apartments within a reasonable distance from the site, knowing that Zion itself is not very appealing (clean, reputable, and secure)? ???

nucworker

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Re: Zion
« Reply #26 on: Aug 19, 2008, 01:44 »
 Seems to me that with the spiraling cost of fossil fuels, and with the environmental
 impact in place at the current site, coupled with the fact that this generation of
 westinghouse 4 loop pwr has been run efficiently and reliably at other locations,
 that at this time a good analysis for restart would be a viable option to the plant
 which has only been utilized for a portion of its intended time vs decommissioning.

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Re: Zion
« Reply #27 on: Aug 19, 2008, 02:34 »
I then clicked on the "Job Openings" link;

This will be your Zion job posting link from now until safe storage.........http://www.energysolutions.com/index.php?id=MTAwNQ==&loc=Zion,%20IL

I believe Pat Daly is going to be the main contact for the HP/Rad Engineer type positions. Denuke had a posting out for one at Zion a while back, but ES never did.....
« Last Edit: Aug 19, 2008, 02:36 by DaveWarren »

Offline Dave Warren

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Re: Zion
« Reply #28 on: Aug 19, 2008, 02:53 »
Being a Gurnee native, I know the area well, my son......from the always kind and truly gentle, and always willing to lend a hand, Dave Warren

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Re: Zion
« Reply #29 on: Aug 19, 2008, 03:20 »
This will be your Zion job posting link from now until safe storage.........http://www.energysolutions.com/index.php?id=MTAwNQ==&loc=Zion,%20IL

I believe Pat Daly is going to be the main contact for the HP/Rad Engineer type positions. Denuke had a posting out for one at Zion a while back, but ES never did.....

I know Bartlett has a contract with Energy Solutions, they may also be placing HP/Rad Engineer types onsite.  I'm told they have one onsite already.

carlschmarl2

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Re: Zion
« Reply #30 on: Jan 04, 2009, 02:46 »
Hello,

New guy here. I currently work at Ginna as a guard (Wackenthut). The fiance is getting relocated to Milwaukee WI for work. Someone mentioned that I should look into Zion. Does anyone know if they are hiring guards? Also, does anyone know if I am able to work as a guard while living in another state? I know in NY that would be almost impossible as you have to have a NYS CCW permit. But I know both WI and IL don't have CCW...

Any help? Someone point me in the right direction to a website or to a contact number?!

Thanks.

Carl

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Re: Zion
« Reply #31 on: Jan 04, 2009, 02:11 »
Hello,

Any help? Someone point me in the right direction to a website or to a contact number?!

Thanks.

Carl

I don't think you would have a problem living with living in Cheeseland and working at Zion.
30% or more of the people that were house at Zion lived in Wisconsin.
You can contact Everett Chretien at the Oak Ridge Office at 865-481-8285 and he may have some info for you.

Offline HydroDave63

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Re: Zion
« Reply #32 on: Jan 04, 2009, 02:22 »

Any help? Someone point me in the right direction to a website or to a contact number?!


1-800-BLAGOEVICH  ? ;)

atomicrod

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Re: Zion - (more questions about restoration)
« Reply #33 on: Jan 19, 2009, 12:16 »
As several people on this thread have noted, the conditions that justified Zion's closure in 1998 have changed quite a bit. License extensions have been proven to be acceptable, natural gas prices are about 2-4 times higher, nuclear plant operators have learned how to achieve high capacity factors, and electricity prices in Northern Illinois have gone up considerably.

For all of those reasons, several people in the area near Zion have begun serious questioning. They want to more fully understand why Exelon seems to be in a hurry to destroy (oops - decommission) the plant. They do not quite understand the math - in several public statements, Exelon has said that it might cost $1.5 - $2 billion and take 2-3 years to restore the plant. The company has stated that it also does not make economic sense to make that investment.

Using some rough, back of the envelop computations about the cost to operate - once the initial capital outlay has been invested - and the cost of power from natural gas sufficient to cover the output of the two reactor facility, it appears to me that it might generate $700 million to $1 billion per year in free cash flow. That would seem to provide ample opportunity to pay back the investment in a short period of time.

What I need from nuke workers is more information about the real status of the plant and what might be needed to get it running again. I recognize the challenge of getting back an operating license once it has been given up; as near as I can tell, this would be a groundbreaking effort that has never been done before.

One of the really talented nuclear plant operating companies with expansionary tendencies (Entergy, FPL, Dominion, Duke, or Southern) could make a go out of Zion and from what my local area source tell me, they would find some very welcoming people in the area.

Rod Adams
Publisher, Atomic Insights
Host and producer, The Atomic Show Podcast
Founder, Adams Atomic Engines, Inc.
 

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Re: Zion
« Reply #34 on: Feb 19, 2010, 03:33 »
I was recently told that site was hoping to be proceeding forward twords D&D around middle of 2010. Also, last month I heard that Energy Solutions was looking for a few internal Rad Techs to join the site crew.

Zion is also mentioned in today's 2/19/2010 Barrons artical.  Source of full artical at end. -Slick

**************
THIS MORNING, STEVE CREAMER, chairman and chief executive officer of EnergySolutions (Ticker: ES), announced his resignation from both positions, effective immediately.
This follows the resignation of Philip Strawbridge, formerly the chief financial officer, in December 2009.
(content removal)

As a result, we are downgrading the shares of EnergySolutions to Underperform (from Outperform) for several reasons, including: (1) concerns about fourth-quarter results; (2) uncertainty about management's guidance for 2010, given that both the CFO and CEO are new to their positions and may take an ultra-conservative view; (3) uncertainty about the timing and success of the Zion decommissioning contract; and (4) uncertainty about the future strategy of EnergySolutions.

(content removal)

We expect the shares to be weak as investors attempt to understand Mr. Creamer's resignation, particularly the timing. We believe that management's guidance for 2010 and broader comments about Zion and the longer-term strategy will be the catalyst.
************

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB126653955393448077.html
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Re: Zion
« Reply #35 on: Aug 05, 2010, 01:18 »
So what's the latest with the Zion decommissioning?  Is there still fuel on-site?
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Re: Zion
« Reply #36 on: Aug 06, 2010, 05:43 »
In my earlier question regarding the fuel at Zion, I was considering that it may have been sent to another Excelon site.  I realize shipping spent fuel isn't exactly a common site these days, but it was a possibility.
Now had it been sent to another site I would have been interested in any information that could have been provided for that.  Just curiosity, nothing dark.

I have never shipped spent fuel.  Some highly irradiated objects, but never fuel.   50
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Re: Zion
« Reply #37 on: Aug 09, 2010, 07:18 »
No fuel, but unloaded lots of CRB, up to 250K R/hr,  at Chem Nuke from 74 to 91, and these were all above ground unloads. Me 54
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Re: Zion
« Reply #38 on: Oct 19, 2010, 07:00 »
Well it looks like Big Blue is staffing RP techs for Zion.  Only $27.50 and $110.00 PD for the Chicago suburbs.  Handford today $36 and change and $80.00 a day with much lower cost of living.  I am sure that a laborer out of Chicago's Union hall is way over $27.50.  What an insult.  Good Luck with that Big Blue.

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Re: Zion
« Reply #39 on: Oct 19, 2010, 08:25 »
I agree with you that Tech, I don't think Big Blue will have much luck with that at all. If thats a true statement.

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Re: Zion
« Reply #40 on: Oct 20, 2010, 08:25 »
Just remember, they are staffing for Energy Solutions.  I am sure they (Bartlett) would offer higher wages if the client was willing to pay more.  I bet they will staff.
LM

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Re: Zion
« Reply #41 on: Oct 20, 2010, 09:32 »
I see several posts by Sun Dog that Chicago rate for a laborer is $35.00/hr straight time.  The rate of  $27.50 and $110.00 PD for Sr. RP techs came from Big Blues office.  So I guess a Senior Tech is worth $7.50 less an hour that a laborer. Federal PD is way more than $110 for this area.
I also noticed Bartlett wants Techs with Decommissioning experience.  A lot of those Techs live in New England. Not too sure how this will work out.  4/ 10s are nice if you live in commuting distance,  not so nice if your home in Connecticut or Mass.

Offline Rennhack

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Re: Zion
« Reply #42 on: Oct 20, 2010, 10:21 »
Federal PD is way more than $110 for this area.

I just looked it up on the GSA website.  The 2011 Federal Lodging Rate is $128/day, which is biased on the southern part of the County, near Chicago, 45 miles away.  $128 isn't much more than $110.

Zion is in Lake County Ill, which does have a Federal Rate of $128/day for lodging in 2011, compared to the normal rate for Ill of $77/day.  However, Zion is at the far North end of Lake County, about 45 miles away from Chicago.  Zion is closer to Milwaukee, Wisconsin than it is to Chicago, and it boarders Kenosha County.  Kenosha County, where you may end up living has a Federal Per Diem rate of $70 for lodging in 2011.

If $3,346/month ($110*365/12) isn’t enough to cover your lodging, then you seriously need to reevaluate your lodging choices.  The most expensive hotel within 30 miles is in Kenosha and is the Radison, which charges $109 a night.  The Super 8 charges $44, as does the Econo Lodge.  The Days Inn in Great Lakes charges $35/day (About $2,300/mo less than your per diem).  * According to Hotels.com

Here are the top 6 results for hotels in Zion, all cost considerably less than $110/day:

•   Country Inn & Suites www.countryinns.com - (847) 746-0101
•   Illinois Beach & Resort www.ilresorts.com - (847) 625-7300
•   The Emanuelson Inn Bed & Breakfast www.emanuelsoninn.com - (847) 872-8488
•   American Inn Motel - (847) 746-2095
•   Sheridan Motel - (847) 872-8236
•   Parkside Motel - (847) 746-8133

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for them to pay $128/day or even $200/day... but I think $3,346/mo will cover my lodging expenses, if I ever visit them.
« Last Edit: Oct 21, 2010, 10:13 by Rennhack »

Offline retired nuke

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Re: Zion
« Reply #43 on: Oct 20, 2010, 10:42 »
I see several posts by Sun Dog that Chicago rate for a laborer is $35.00/hr straight time.  The rate of  $27.50 and $110.00 PD for Sr. RP techs came from Big Blues office.  So I guess a Senior Tech is worth $7.50 less an hour that a laborer. Federal PD is way more than $110 for this area.
I also noticed Bartlett wants Techs with Decommissioning experience.  A lot of those Techs live in New England. Not too sure how this will work out.  4/ 10s are nice if you live in commuting distance,  not so nice if your home in Connecticut or Mass.

An RP tech on 40s, with PD would be making $27.5*40 +$770
Takehome from that (65% of wage, 100% of PD) = ~ $1450/wk

That laborer would get ~$910. If there wasn't a wage agreement (my area is 85% of prevailing for the union hands since it's long term work).

And that laborer will be doing all the heavy work, outside, in the snow, while the RP is counting smears, and posting on NW....

Feel free to contact the Laborer local and sign up for membership.

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Remember that you will die, and that this day is a gift. Remember how you wish to live, may the blessing of the Lord be with you

Offline Rennhack

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Re: Zion
« Reply #44 on: Oct 20, 2010, 10:55 »
I see several posts by Sun Dog that Chicago rate for a laborer is $35.00/hr straight time.

I just checked the ACTUAL prevailing wage for a laborer in Lake County Ill.  Guess what it is?  $35.20, So Sun Dog was correct... But don't just accept what people say.  Investigate, verify.

Here is a link to the prevailing wages for Lake County:

http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/rates/ODDMO/LAKE9999.htm

For those that don't want to look it up, here is a summary:

Asbestos     $31.54
Boilermaker     $43.02
Brick     $39.03
Carpenter     $40.77
Cement     $40.30
Ceramic     $33.60
Communication     $34.15
Electric     $25.68
Electrician     $39.15
Elevator     $46.16
Fence     $32.66
Glazier     $38.00
Ht/Frost     $42.05
Iron     $40.75
Laborer     $35.20
Lather     $40.77
Machinist     $43.16
Marble     $29.10
Material     $25.20
Materials     $30.20
Millwright     $40.77
Operating     $45.10
Ornamntl     $40.20
Painter     $31.74
Piledriver     $40.77
Plasterer     $38.69
Plumber     $43.70
Roofer     $37.65
Sheetmetal     $40.46
Sign     $28.21
Sprinkler     $49.20
Steel     $40.75
Stone     $39.03
Terrazzo     $35.15
Tile     $40.49
Traffic     $24.30
Truck     $32.20
Tuckpointer     $39.20
   
 Min     $24.30
 Max     $49.20
 Average     $37.32
 Median     $39.09
 Mode     $40.77
 Deviation     $6.00

I would have to agree that $27.50/hr for a RP Tech seems low compared to the prevailing rates in the area.  It is also low compared to the Rates paid at the other long term DOE sites.  The Prevailing wage at Hanford for a laborer is $33/hr, Rad Techs get $33.60(Bart) - $37.00(URS) plus PD according to the 2 Hanford jobs posted in the job board.

I'd say $37/h & $128/day would be an attractive rate.  Who would leave that job?

It's not as much about staffing it, as it is about staffing it with high quality techs, that play well with others over long durations.  You want as little drama, errors, and turnover as you can get. -- Bottom of the barrel won't achieve those goals.
« Last Edit: Oct 20, 2010, 11:14 by Rennhack »

Offline techtoolong

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Re: Zion
« Reply #45 on: Oct 20, 2010, 11:15 »
The rate ranges from $123 a day to $173 a day based on time of year and $71. a day for meals and incidentals.  That is $194 to $244 a day.  Maybe you do not eat like the rest of us.  

Offline tymekeeper

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Re: Zion
« Reply #46 on: Oct 20, 2010, 12:51 »
The job posted on your site with Bartlett is stating a time period of 6-8 months, not 1 year+, so yes you do qualify for per diem if you play by the rules and have duplicate expenses.

The point, again, was local laborers making 35+/hr, and Sr. Techs making 5+/hr less. The local techs that don't qualify for per diem should be raising a fuss (IMHO).

Offline techtoolong

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Re: Zion
« Reply #47 on: Oct 20, 2010, 02:13 »
It is the Bartlett post from yesterday for Senior techs.  Recruiter does not say where but is you contact her it is Zion.  I know some folks with Energy solutions are already there.  I worked all 3 New England  decommissionings and staffing fluctuates with projects, the release of funds and of course weather. They hire then they lay off and hire again... over and over.  There will be some folks stay the whole project but definitely not all.  All three CY,MY and YR took your perdiem at around 11 months.  They did not even offer to tax it like DOE does,  most people did get a higher hourly rate at that time.

Fluffy is only second to you Henry :) ;) 8)

Offline SpyCat

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Zion D&D update
« Reply #48 on: Oct 08, 2011, 01:02 »
Speaking of dollar signs... there are many gainfully-employed workers here at the Zion site.  Currently the wall of U-2 ctmt has a large doorway cut into it, and RCS piping is being cut up.  Looks like re-start is not in the cards.

BTW travelers, if you're frightened by Waukegan or Zion, check out much-classier Winthrop Harbor.

 


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