Crews Remove Contaminated Piping, Ductwork at Plutonium Finishing Plant

RICHLAND, Wash. – Risk reduction work is safely underway inside and outside the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) on the Hanford Site. While demolition continues on two of the plant's four main buildings, crews with contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CH2M) are preparing the other two buildings for teardown.

   CH2M field work supervisor Gary Hix’s crew removed more than 750 feet of contaminated piping. The team cut and cleared the piping, piece by piece, over three and a half months. They worked in tight spaces, wearing extensive safety equipment. “The working conditions were some of the most challenging we have faced, but the crew did an excellent job,” Hix said. Crews have taken out about 82 percent of the 7,100 feet of similar piping in PFP.

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   Inside the main processing facility, crews removed or prepared to remove about 70 percent of the more than 1.5 miles of contaminated ventilation duct, which kept employees and the environment safe during plutonium production days. CH2M field work supervisor Jason Kevan’s crew members are cleaning out the contaminated former processing infrastructure and removing hazards like asbestos, which will take the next few months, before demolition begins on the remaining two PFP buildings.