Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson has sent to the U.S. Congress an independent assessment of the Department of Energy's Worker and Community Transition program that estimates the program has created or retained more than 22,000 jobs.

"I am pleased that an independent study directed by Congress of our Worker and Community Transition program recognizes the program's accomplishments in helping mitigate the social and economic impacts resulting from our department's transition," Secretary Richardson said. "This program has helped develop more than 22,000 jobs, has furnished a foundation for community economic development and has provided leadership in site closure and reuse of our facilities."

The report, directed by the 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, was conducted by Booz Allen and Hamilton, Inc., a leading national auditing firm. The report notes that the program has helped retain a skilled and productive work force by offering early retirement and other voluntary separation programs that have resulted in the amicable separation of more than 30,000 contractor employees, as well as reducing legal challenges and incidence of work place violence.

The estimated job creation and retention was accomplished through both work force adjustment programs such as education, relocation and job placement assistance (10,845 jobs) and community transition activities (11,503 jobs). Efforts to work with local communities to identify industrial uses for excess facilities at Mound and Pinellas have accelerated cleanup and saved more than $100 million in landlord and maintenance costs, according to the report.

The report concludes that the Department continues to face major transition issues involving early site closure, new contracting mechanisms and budget adjustments.

- DOE -

R-98-136

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