Deputy Secretary Mark W. Menezes presents Salt Waste Processing Facility Federal Project Director Pam Marks with the Secretary’s Appreciation Award for Management Excellence on Dec. 4.
AIKEN, S.C. – Members of the Savannah River Site (SRS) Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) project team received Secretary of Energy Appreciation Awards for completing the last major piece of the liquid waste treatment system at SRS.
Deputy Secretary Mark W. Menezes presented the awards as part of a visit to SRS and the Savannah River National Laboratory on Dec. 4.
“I am pleased to present the Secretary of Energy Appreciation Awards to the SWPF project team at the Savannah River Site,” Menezes said. “One of the many groundbreaking accomplishments taking place at the SRS is the startup of the SWPF. This facility is a leap forward in the Department of Energy’s ability to tackle legacy nuclear tank waste, one of the largest and most challenging environmental risks.”
SWPF Federal Project Director Pam Marks received the Secretary’s Appreciation Award for Management Excellence in recognition of her superior performance, leadership, resilience, and tenacity. This award was created to recognize employees who demonstrate a sustained commitment to management excellence by putting the Department’s management principles into action daily.
Deputy Secretary Mark W. Menezes presented members of the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) project team with the Secretary of Energy Appreciation Award on Dec. 4. From left, DOE-Savannah River Assistant Manager for Waste Disposition Jim Folk; SWPF Federal Project Director Pam Marks; SWPF Deputy Federal Project Director Shayne Farrell; Menezes; Savannah River Remediation President and Project Manager Phil Breidenbach; Parsons Senior Vice President and SWPF Project Manager Frank Sheppard; and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions President and CEO Stuart MacVean.
The SWPF Integrated Project Team (IPT) also received a Secretary's Appreciation Award for superior performance toward obtaining approval for Critical Decision-4, Start of Operations or project completion for the SWPF. This award is given to employees or contractors for making a noteworthy contribution to DOE beyond the scope of their normal work responsibilities.
“The IPT successfully implemented innovative technical solutions to maintain schedule milestones and control project costs,” the award commendation states.
The SWPF will process the majority of the site’s salt waste inventory by separating the highly radioactive constituents for treatment via vitrification, from the predominately low-radioactive, large-volume salts that will be treated for disposal onsite. Removing salt waste, which fills over 90 percent of tank space in the SRS tank farms, is a major step toward emptying and closing the site’s remaining 43 high-level waste tanks.
The first batch of radioactive waste was transferred to SWPF on Oct. 5, beginning “hot” commissioning of the facility. In the first month of operation, the SWPF processed nearly 86,000 gallons of waste.
-Contributors: Amy Boyette, Sonya Goines
Hanford Tests First Connection Between WTP and Tank Farms
RICHLAND, Wash. – EM Office of River Protection (ORP) contractors Bechtel National Inc. (BNI) and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) recently joined forces to test transfer lines that establish the first connection between the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) and an operating tank farms facility at the Hanford Site.
The transfer lines will move condensate produced during vitrification, or immobilization of tank waste in glass, in the plant’s Low Activity Waste (LAW) facility to the nearby Liquid Effluent Retention Facility (LERF) operated by tank operations contractor WRPS. BNI holds the contract to design, build, start up, and commission the WTP. The large holding basins at LERF support operations at the nearby Effluent Treatment Facility (EFT) that remove chemical and radiological contaminants from wastewater.
The testing process required filling 7,000 feet of pipeline with 5,000 gallons of water and pressurizing the lines to check for leaks.
“The testing went smoothly, and workers demonstrated the line is ready to support round-the-clock operations at the plant to treat waste from Hanford’s large underground tanks,” said Richard Valle, ORP program manager for the project.
Matt Huntington, lead project engineer for WRPS, praised team members from both contractors for the coordination and communication demonstrated throughout the project.
“The tenacity and dedication of employees of both companies to communicate, focus on safety, and follow all COVID-19 controls was impressive,” he said.
Steve Thieme, project manager for Waste Treatment Completion Company, a subcontractor to BNI, said, “This transfer line project set the standard for future collaboration between contractors that will support the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste approach to treating tank waste.”
The LAW facility will use two massive melters to mix tank waste and glass-forming materials at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The condensate created will be sent to the LERF prior to being processed at the ETF. WRPS is completing a series of upgrades at ETF to increase its capacity and reliability prior to starting 24/7 operations at WTP to vitrify tank waste.
-Contributor: Hal McCune
Crews Begin Tearing Down Last of DOE Buildings at ETEC
Jayme Gillen, an employee with North Wind Portage, EM's cleanup contractor at the former Energy Technology Engineering Center site, sprays water to mitigate dust while crews demolish one of eight DOE-owned buildings remaining at the site.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – EM workers have demolished two of the final eight DOE-owned buildings remaining at the former Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) site in Ventura County, California.
“We’re in the final leg of DOE’s commitment to complete demolition at ETEC, safely and on time. Our partnership with the state of California has been vital to getting the ETEC site to final cleanup and completion, and our crews are committed to ensuring the site remains safe for the surrounding communities,” ETEC Federal Project Director John Jones said.
Crews tore down the two structures in recent weeks. In just one day in November, they safely knocked down a small structure once used for the storage of non-radioactive chemical waste as they worked around an old oak tree to preserve it. Days later, they demolished a building that had been used to treat reactive metals, including potassium and sodium.
EM crews use shears to remove an ancillary structure at the former Energy Technology Engineering Center site.
The two buildings made up the Hazardous Waste Management Facility. Workers are on track to finish cleanup of that facility and safely ship the demolition debris for offsite disposal this month.
After the remaining six buildings are taken down, DOE intends to continue working with the state of California on final cleanup. This work includes removing remaining sub-grade portions of the buildings and cleanup of groundwater and soils.
In early November, workers advanced an EM 2020 priority by safely and successfully tearing down the last of 10 buildings at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility at ETEC. Work on the final eight DOE-owned buildings began following the signing of an amended agreement with the state of California.
-Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon
EM Set to Remove 750,000 Gallons of Refrigerant From Paducah Site
Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth employees celebrate their achievement of 4 million safe work hours at the Portsmouth Site.
PIKE COUNTY, Ohio – Workers for the deactivation and decommissioning prime contractor at the Portsmouth Site recently celebrated 4 million safe work hours without a lost-time injury.
The nearly 2,000 employees and subcontractors for Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP) worked 1.4 million of those hours under pandemic protocols.
“This is a remarkable accomplishment for everyone on the team and it is especially impressive when we consider how much work we have done here while balancing safety on a daily basis,” Portsmouth Site Project Director JD Dowell said.
While the pandemic has impacted daily life, the commitment to safety has remained strong, Dowell added.
“From starting each day with the daily safety sheet to working together in safety work groups, every employee has played a part in making this milestone a reality,” Dowell said.
Duane McLane, FBP’s environment, safety, health, and quality director, credited the workforce, safety work groups, supervisors, and others for the achievement.
“It is rewarding to see the dedication to our safety goals and reaching this level of success,” McLane said.
-Contributors: Donnie Locke, Cindi Remy
Moab UMTRA Project Takes Part in Regional Study to Improve Revegetation
MOAB, Utah – A swath of remediated property at EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project is now part of a large-scale research study to help identify better revegetation methods for the EM site and other desert areas across the southwest U.S.
Soils on the Moab Site are alkaline, salty, and fine-grained, qualities that complicate work to create a self-sustaining, native landscape requiring little to no maintenance.
The Moab Project recently partnered with ecologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to test revegetation techniques. The team is investigating more suitable plants and soil treatments for revegetation efforts.
The study findings will not only give insight into improving ecological conditions on the Moab Site, but the data will support land management decisions for similar areas. The work is part of the USGS RestoreNet experimental restoration network, which has more than 20 demonstration sites in several states.
“USGS is passionate about supporting our federal management partners. This joint DOE-USGS project is exciting because it allows us to explore restoration options that can work for the specific needs of this site, but also add to our RestoreNet restoration network,” USGS Research Ecologist Sasha Reed said. “This means the collaboration can help build a larger understanding of innovative management options that can successfully reclaim healthy ecosystems.”
Revegetation Technician Erik Parker rakes seed into a research plot at the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.
The study on the Moab Site encompasses more than 330 plots, each measuring four square meters. The team tested diverse techniques that involved different seed mixes, microorganisms, and soil heights. Plots will receive various applications of water, fertilizers, and mulch. Staff members will monitor the plots for about two years.
Restoring disturbed areas with desirable plant species reduces dust, helps control erosion, and provides a suitable habitat for native wildlife.
“We are excited for the opportunity to continue to build our collaborative relationships with other restoration professionals in the Moab area," Moab UMTRA Project Environment Technician Luke Mattson said. "We are confident the results from these experiments will provide valuable insight into best management practices for restoring native vegetation to the Moab Site, as well as the greater restoration community.”
Moab UMTRA Project Federal Cleanup Director Russell McCallister says this effort forges a path to returning the property to its original condition.
“As the project moves closer to final closure of the Moab Site, these studies will give us a clearer picture of what the site’s landscape could ultimately look like, which will be very rewarding,” McCallister said.
-Contributors: Luke Mattson, Joe Ritchey, Honora Thompson
South Carolina Legislators Designate Nov. 28 as SRS Day
State Sen. Tom Young and State Rep. Bill Taylor bestow a Senate resolution designating Savannah River Site Day in South Carolina on Nov. 28, 2020 to DOE-Savannah River (SR) Manager Mike Budney, Acting National Nuclear Security Administration Savannah River Field Office Manager Jeffrey Allison, and DOE-SR Deputy Manager Thomas Johnson. Pictured, front row from left, are Allison, Budney, and Young; and back row from left, Taylor and Johnson.
AIKEN, S.C. – On Nov. 28, 1950, newspapers and radio stations announced that the then-named Savannah River Plant would be constructed in Aiken and Barnwell counties in South Carolina at the direction of President Harry S. Truman.
Nearly 70 years later, South Carolina legislators honored the site, now called Savannah River Site (SRS), with a Senate resolution commemorating Nov. 28 as SRS Day in the state. Elected officials gathered with site leaders on the steps of the Aiken Municipal Building last month to bestow the framed resolution to SRS.
“The Savannah River Site and its 11,000 employees have an enormous, positive economic impact in our region,” said State Sen. Tom Young, who sponsored the resolution. “Because of the importance of the site to our region and our state, it was important to recognize Nov. 28 in our state as SRS Day, to honor all current and former SRS employees for their important contributions to our national defense over these past 70 years.”
Co-sponsors of the resolution included the Aiken legislative delegation and other representatives from counties south of SRS.
In only five years, a workforce that peaked with more than 38,000 workers constructed key production reactors and support facilities needed to execute the site’s mission — a monumental industrial and engineering feat often compared to the construction of the Panama Canal.
Since then, SRS has played a vital role in delivering materials and technologies of national significance, including fuel for NASA’s deep space program. The site also built and operates the world’s largest radioactive waste vitrification facility, and serves as the nation’s primary source of tritium to support the nuclear stockpile.
Banners like the one hanging across this intersection are displayed in Aiken to commemorate the Savannah River Site’s 70th anniversary on Nov. 28. State delegates designated the date as SRS Day in South Carolina.
DOE-Savannah River Manager Mike Budney said the site’s history aligns with key events in America’s history over the past 70 years.
“The site was constructed in response to the Cold War to serve a vital role in America’s nuclear deterrent and nuclear nonproliferation and, along the way, we have developed countless innovative technologies that have strengthened national security, environmental stewardship, and even propelled America into the stars,” Budney said. “SRS is a one-of-a-kind asset and I have no doubt our future will be as impressive as our past.”
Jeffrey Allison, acting manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration Savannah River Field Office, said the site has served as a major cornerstone of America’s national defense infrastructure.
“The efforts of our predecessors directly contribute to the achievements we have enjoyed for decades,” Allison said. “The SRS of today is continuing the traditions of the past — dedicated, patriotic, safe, secure, hard work — to ensure a continued legacy of success for decades to come.”
The SRS platinum anniversary has been celebrated throughout Aiken County this year, recognizing the contributions of the workforce and support from the community. To learn more about the history and missions of site, visit the websites for SRS and the SRS Museum in Aiken.
-Contributors: Angie Benfield, Julie Petersen
West Valley Exceeds Goal for Food Drive Supporting Nine Area Pantries
West Valley Demonstration Project employees deliver donated food to Cattaraugus Food Pantry Saving Grace OutReach in Cattaraugus, New York.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – The EM West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) Site workforce surpassed its goal for this year’s food drive, collecting 125,000 pounds of items for nine area pantries, including 400 turkeys.
This year’s collection raises the site’s total food donations for people in need to more than 2 million pounds since the annual tradition began in 1989.
“The success of our food drive is a direct result of the generosity and kindness of our employees, partners, and subcontractors,” said Lettie Chilson, WVDP facility manager and food drive coordinator. “It demonstrates the positive impact that kindness can have on a community. The WVDP food drive helps to improve the quality of life for our neighbors serviced by the local pantries.”
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EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 37 | Dec. 8, 2020 |
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Salt Waste Processing Facility Team Receives DOE Secretary Awards |
PADUCAH, Ky. – EM is scheduled this year to remove 750,000 gallons of R-114 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon, from the Paducah Site.
R-114 was used to cool equipment in the uranium enrichment process at
gaseous diffusion plants during production years. R-114 is a historic
contributor to ozone depletion and a greenhouse gas, so its disposition
protects the environment and advances EM’s cleanup mission. From left,
Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership (FRNP) Program Manager Myrna Redfield, Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office
Project Manager April Ladd, and FRNP Technical Services Director James
Miller hold up a banner commemorating the first offsite shipment of
R-114 refrigerant in September. FRNP is the Paducah Site cleanup
contractor.
-Contributor: Dylan Nichols
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Portsmouth Site D&D Contractor Marks 4 Million Safe Work Hours |
West Valley Demonstration Project employees deliver donated food to the Little Valley Baptist Church food pantry in Little Valley, New York. The goal this year was to collect 120,000 pounds of food to help hundreds of families in need during the holiday season. WVDP volunteers delivered the turkeys and hundreds of cases of food to the food pantries. “I am honored to be a part of an event that makes a difference in our community,” said John Rendall, president and general manager of CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, EM’s cleanup contractor at the site. “The amount of food collected year after year demonstrates the generosity and kindness of our employees.” -Contributor: Joseph Pillittere |
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