SRS company pays $2.4M to settle fraud claim

The company that manages and operates the Savannah River Site has agreed to pay the federal government $2.4 million to settle fraud allegations.
   
U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins said Friday that the Washington Savannah River Company had also agreed to abandon its claim to an additional $35 million from the U.S. Energy Department to cover rising pension costs.
   
Wilkins says WSRC didn’t tell the government about substantial projected increases in required contributions to the pension fund for SRS employees.
   
Wilkins says this violated the False Claims Act, which prevents a government contractor from presenting false claims to the government for payment.
   
WSRC officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.