OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) -- Federal government contractors have approved buyout packages for 98 hourly workers as part of a payroll reduction at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge.

B&W Technical Services had hoped for 120 workers to be approved for buyouts, but spokesman Bill Wilburn told The Knoxville News Sentinel no layoffs of workers are planned.

The company says the buyouts and other personnel moves are needed to prepare for tighter federal budgets expected in fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

Wilburn says 121 hourly employees applied for the voluntary departure program. Some of the applicants were in job categories where no cuts are needed.

The Y-12 plant, about 25 miles west of Knoxville, makes uranium parts for every nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal and is the country's primary storehouse for weapons-grade uranium.

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