GALVESTON,
Texas (April 4, 2014) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Baltimore District awarded a $34,663,325 contract to CB&I Federal Services
LLC (CB&I) for the decommissioning, dismantling and disposal of the MH-1A
nuclear reactor, which is installed on the STURGIS barge. The STURGIS will be
relocated in September 2014 to Galveston, Texas, for decommissioning.
Before being shutdown in 1976, the MH-1A nuclear reactor was used
to generate electricity for military and civilian use. The reactor was
de-fueled, decontaminated and sealed before being towed to the James River
Reserve Fleet at Joint Base Langley Eustis, Va., where it is currently being
stored and maintained.
After the contractor removes the residual radioactive waste
materials, the remaining portions of the STURGIS barge will be transported to
Brownsville, Texas, for disposal or recycling as scrap using standard ship
breaking methods. Wastes will be segregated in accordance with applicable
federal, state and local laws and regulations. The entire process is
anticipated to be completed in under four years.
The USACE will host a public meeting in Galveston this summer to
provide more details and answer questions.
Learn more about the decommissioning and dismantling contract at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/Sturgis.aspx.
For news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil.
Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict
or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.
Release no. 14-015