Power plant layoffs reduced

PIKETON, Ohio- Fewer workers will be laid off at the uranium enrichment plant in Piketon because more short-term projects and modifications need to be done than originally expected, the U.S. Enrichment Corp. said yesterday.

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant stopped enrichment operations last Friday.

USEC Spokeswoman Angie Duduit said yesterday the number of layoffs has been reduced from 526 to about 375 of the plant's 1,730 employees. About 200 of these are salary workers.

Duduit also said the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative will help match those who do get laid off with new jobs.

Layoffs will begin June 1 and will continue through August 31. Some workers could stay until November, Duduit said.