URS Corporation

The Seversk Plutonium Production Elimination program, a cooperative effort between the United States and the Russian Federation, entailed refurbishing the existing fossil fuel plant and shutting down the last two remaining plutonium production reactors in the city of Seversk. The project helped meet goals established under the Elimination of Weapons Grade Plutonium Program, which grew out of a U.S. and Russian Federation agreement to halt plutonium production and eliminate proliferation risk.

The plutonium reactors were the primary source of heat, steam and power for the city and surrounding communities. URS’ scope of work included installation, startup and turnover of seven boilers and two turbine generators; municipal and industrial heating systems upgrades; and the replacement of auxiliary equipment, including a new distributed control system and a state-of-the-art water treatment facility. The upgraded 50-year-old coal plant now provides 235 megawatts of electric power to the remote region, located in the heart of Siberia.

The final two plutonium production reactors shut down for good in April and June 2008.

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