Zion

[Hereinnc]

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]

 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.

[Dave Warren]

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.....

[Dave Warren]

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

[Rennhack]

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]

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

[Dave Warren]

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.

[HydroDave63]

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

1-800-BLAGOEVICH  ?

[atomicrod]

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.

[slick1]

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

[HousePuke]

So what's the latest with the Zion decommissioning?  Is there still fuel on-site?

[HousePuke]

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

[MrHazmat]

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

[techtoolong]

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.

[Jr8black3]

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.

[Laundry Man]

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

[techtoolong]

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.

[Rennhack]

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.

[retired nuke]

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.

[Rennhack]

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.

[techtoolong]

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.  

[tymekeeper]

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).

[techtoolong]

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

[SpyCat]

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.