Fluor Daniel Hanford has fixed the quality control problems that led to a $330,000 fine earlier this year, the Department of Energy announced Monday.

DOE lifted a compliance order against Fluor that outlined specific corrective actions that had to be completed by specific dates. That means the problems have been fixed to DOE's satisfaction.

"The message we sent to Fluor Daniel Hanford Inc. and all our contractors through the compliance order is that (DOE) will not accept poor performance," said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson in a press release.

The fine covered numerous Fluor failures to ensure the quality of its work from late 1996 to early 1999. DOE inspected Fluor on quality assurance matters in spring 1998 and discussed remedial work with the company. DOE reinspected Fluor and its subcontractors in spring 1999 and found numerous troubles remaining, mostly at the K Basins.

That led to the $330,00 fine being levied in May. Fluor paid that fine out of corporate funds - not federal cleanup money - in June.

The fine came with the compliance order to fix numerous problems.

The DOE press release said Fluor has fixed the problems DOE identified at the K Basins, as well as found another 29 problems to be tackled.

Also, management troubles have been fixed. And a system of finding, tracking and correcting deficiencies across Hanford has been installed, according to DOE.

The $330,00 fine is the largest DOE ever has levied against a Hanford contractor. But it is the second biggest in Hanford's history.

In early 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined DOE and some contractors $367,078 for problems with keeping track of hazardous materials.

The K Basins hold 2,300 tons of spent nuclear fuel in two indoor leak-prone pools 400 yards from the Columbia River. The project's purpose is to move that fuel to a safer underground vault several miles inland.