Hanford Achieves First Test Transfer Between Tank Waste Treatment Support Facilities; EM Safely Tears Down High Risk Building, Reactor at LLNL; and much more!

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EM Update | Vol. 14, Issue 18 | May 10, 2022

Hanford Achieves First Test Transfer Between Tank Waste Treatment Support Facilities
EM Safely Tears Down High Risk Building, Reactor at LLNL
Plans for EM Progress Detailed in New Budget Document
EM Transfers Unneeded Electrical Equipment to City of Oak Ridge for Reuse
West Valley, Seneca Nation Honor Mother Earth With Sunrise Ceremony, Walk
New 2 1/2-Mile Pipeline, Tubing Support Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant
Emergency Services Organizations Receive $90,000 in Donations From West Valley

Hanford Achieves First Test Transfer Between Tank Waste Treatment Support Facilities

Members of the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant commissioning organization are pictured in front of the Effluent Management Facility. From left are Jeffrey Peterson, John Reyff, Scott Hennick, Jeffrey Blosil, Tyson Warner, Lance Pappas and Pat Mohondro.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Hanford Site crews recently completed the first transfer of test water from the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant's (WTP) Effluent Management Facility (EMF) to the nearby Liquid Effluent Retention Facility (LERF).

The transfer of 6,000 gallons was the first simulation of the process that will be used to treat secondary liquid waste from the plant’s Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility during Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program operations to treat tank waste.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment that culminates years of work by our team and alumni toward being ready for hot commissioning,” said Valerie McCain, project director and senior vice president for EM Office of River Protection contractor Bechtel National, Inc. “It’s an important step for the entire Hanford team and our collective mission of protecting the Columbia River and its shoreline communities.”

During Hanford’s Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program treatment operations, the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, background, will feed liquid waste to the Liquid Effluent Retention Facility, foreground, through a primary transfer line pictured here.

To demonstrate the transfer, WTP crews inside the LAW Facility control room started a delivery sequence, and crews with tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) began their acceptance protocols at the LERF. These steps released the test water from the EMF, allowing it to travel through underground transfer lines to the LERF.

“Testing like this gives us a chance to ensure our people and procedures are ready to operate safely and efficiently, and are integrated,” said Wes Bryan, WRPS president and project manager. “It demonstrates not only that the equipment works, but also how the teams work together to get one step closer to treating tank waste through DFLAW.”

During vitrification — the process of immobilizing tank waste in glass — secondary liquid, called effluent, will be generated by the LAW Facility, the Analytical Laboratory, and when transfer pipes are flushed. The effluent is fed to the EMF, where excess water is boiled away. The water is then piped into holding vessels, where testing ensures it meets waste-acceptance criteria before transfer to the LERF. The remaining waste concentrate is returned to the LAW Facility for treatment.

During full operations, the LAW Facility is designed to vitrify up to 5,000 gallons of low-activity waste per day, equal to 1.75 million gallons per year.

EM Safely Tears Down High Risk Building, Reactor at LLNL

Before and after views of the demolition of Building 175 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

LIVERMORE, Calif. – EM partnered with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to complete the recent demolition of a building and removal of a reactor to make room for new facilities on the lab’s 1-square-mile footprint.

With its small footprint, the lab must maximize all available space by demolishing buildings that have outlived their purpose. This includes Buildings B175 and B280, two high risk excess contaminated facilities onsite.

B175, which crews demolished to slab, played a part in LLNL’s Uranium Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation program, which used an electron beam to vaporize uranium to test ion extraction and material handling subsystems.

“The B175 effort required significant internal integration within LLNL to successfully demolish the building and help refine processes which will be used for future demolition activities,” said Kevin Bazzell, EM’s federal project director at LLNL.

Part of the B175 building waste included low-level and mixed hazardous waste. Workers transported more than 30 shipping containers of waste to an out-of-state disposal facility.

Before and after views of the project to remove the Livermore Pool Type Reactor from inside Building 280 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

B280 housed the Livermore Pool Type Reactor, a neutron-producing machine used for fundamental research and to measure and calibrate instruments. Later, it was used for trace-element measurements, radiation-damage studies and researching shorter-lived fission products.

USACE, in an interagency agreement with EM, completed removal of the reactor from within the building. The reactor demolition work included characterizing and demolishing the reactor bioshield, reactor internals and support equipment.

“The reactor removal required a colossal amount of teamwork and integration among EM, USACE and LLNL to demolish it. Coordinating the teams, their schedules and their individual duties was challenging, but everyone worked together to get it done,” Bazzell said.

Razing the building and its slab will follow. LLNL plans to use the site for a parking structure to support ongoing mission expansion.

“The work at B280 and B175 was a joint EM and LLNL success,” said Bazzell. “The demolition and cleanup at two of the higher risk buildings onsite meant constant communication of schedules, safety protocols and work execution. I’m proud of how our teams collaborated to get the job done.”

EM lists four big accomplishments at Livermore during 2021 and 2022 so far:

Building 175 demolition;
Building 280 Livermore Pool Type Reactor demolition;
Characterization of Building 251, known as the Heavy Element Building;
Awarding a task order to contractor APTIM to demolish Building 251.

EM will continue to partner with LLNL on the demolition of up to 13 facilities at the laboratory site through fiscal year 2029.

-Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon

Plans for EM Progress Detailed in New Budget Document

A crew at the Y-12 National Security Complex at Oak Ridge conducts deactivation work inside Alpha-2, a former enrichment facility that dates back to the Manhattan Project. EM’s budget request for fiscal year 2023 supports the transition to a greater focus on the cleanup of Alpha-2 and other high risk excess facilities at Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

EM’s budget request for fiscal year 2023 will support advancements across the program complex, including progress on treating tank waste, skyline-changing building demolition, and initiatives to bolster cybersecurity, workforce development and outreach to communities, according to a newly released document.

The program’s plans for continued progress in environmental cleanup are discussed in a detailed accounting that was provided to Congress last week. DOE’s 490-page “congressional justification” book for EM provides the most in-depth information about the program’s plans for the next fiscal year.

“The FY 2023 investment of $7,643,202,000 in discretionary budget authority will fund activities to maintain a safe and secure posture in the EM complex, while maximizing cleanup activities,” according to the document. “EM is ready to effectively and efficiently utilize the resources the request provides to make significant progress.”

Among highlights:

At the Hanford Site, the budget request is focused on work to begin hot commissioning and ramp up the capability of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program. It also supports safe operations, including a robust tank integrity program at the site’s tank farms to protect workers, the public and the environment, and meet regulatory commitments.
At the Idaho National Laboratory Site, the request continues operation of the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit to begin treating sodium-bearing tank waste, and supports spent nuclear fuel activities such as continued progress to meet a state milestone of moving all spent nuclear fuel out of wet storage by 2023.
At Oak Ridge, the budget request supports the transition to a greater focus on the cleanup of high risk excess facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex, following successful deactivation and decommissioning activities at the East Tennessee Technology Park.
At the Portsmouth Site, the request will support continued construction at the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility; completion of demolition of the X-326 process building; initiation of pre-demolition of the X-333 process building; and initiation of deactivation of the X-330 process building.
At the West Valley Demonstration Project, the budget request continues to support the ongoing demolition of the Main Plant Process Building, the highest hazard facility remaining on the site.

The budget request also provides a significant focus on cybersecurity activities, and on initiatives that make investments and advancements in equity to address the concerns of underserved communities.

“To advance cleanup, EM will utilize science-based approaches; apply best practices and lessons learned; identify, develop, and deploy practical technological solutions derived from scientific research; and look for innovative and sustainable practices that make cleanup safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective,” according to the document.

Full details of the DOE budget request for EM are available here.

EM Transfers Unneeded Electrical Equipment to City of Oak Ridge for Reuse

Perry Spurling, UCOR power integration manager, left, discusses the recent transfer of electrical equipment from EM to the City of Oak Ridge with Ardo Ba, electric director for the City of Oak Ridge.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – With supply chain issues creating difficulties in obtaining critical infrastructure components, the transfer of various pieces of electrical equipment from EM to the City of Oak Ridge comes at an opportune time.

The Oak Ridge Office of EM and its cleanup contractor UCOR recently transferred two large transformers, six pad-mounted transformers and more than 100 other electrical items at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) to the city, with more planned in the future. The equipment is no longer needed to support federal missions at the site and provides a significant benefit to the city.

“Supply chain issues are making access to this type of equipment challenging,” said Ardo Ba, electric director for the City of Oak Ridge. “Having access to this equipment, especially the transformers, is essential to the operation and maintenance of the electrical power distribution infrastructure servicing the site. The wait can be up to two to three years to purchase substation transformers.”

EM and UCOR recently transferred more than 100 electrical items to the City of Oak Ridge. The equipment is no longer needed for federal missions and helps the city avoid long wait times for necessary components.

EM has been steadily transferring land and infrastructure at ETTP to support industrial redevelopment — part of its overall strategy to convert the former uranium enrichment plant into a multi-use industrial park. To date, EM has transferred 1,300 acres to the community with more slated this year.

EM and UCOR completed core cleanup of ETTP in 2020, and as soil remediation projects are completed, more land becomes available for transfer to enable future industrial development. Much of the infrastructure at ETTP, such as emergency services, roads, electrical power, and water, has been transferred to the city to support the industrial park’s new future.

Previously, EM transferred six pole-mounted transformers. As workers wrap up removing numerous abandoned power poles at the site, EM will complete the transfer of more than 250 additional pole transformers.

“We are always looking to identify beneficial uses for excess materials whenever possible rather than disposing of them in landfills, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to provide this equipment to the city for its use,” Acting ETTP Portfolio Federal Project Director Morgan Carden said. “This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

UCOR also plans to transfer three bucket trucks and one line truck to the city later this year after completing the power pole removal project.

-Contributor: Wayne McKinney

West Valley, Seneca Nation Honor Mother Earth With Sunrise Ceremony, Walk

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) marked Earth Day this year by joining the Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz and Onondowaga’ Water Protectors to pay tribute to Mother Earth and bring awareness to the importance of protecting the Cattaraugus Creek and Lake Erie watershed for future generations. Members of the Seneca Nation and local community and others gathered for a sunrise ceremony at WVDP. As the sun rose, Maria Maybee, Seneca Nation tribal member and event coordinator, asked everyone to form a circle as a symbol of togetherness, and they shared prayers to thank Mother Earth for all she provides. Participants then walked several miles, ending on the Seneca Territory. A cleanup of Cattaraugus Creek took place the following day. “We enjoy the many offerings Mother Earth provides, from the water we drink, the fish, deer, and vegetables we eat. It is important that we protect these natural resources from harm, especially for future generations so they, too, can benefit from these offerings. Water is life,” Maybee said. Pictured are participants in the sunrise ceremony.

-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere

New 2 1/2-Mile Pipeline, Tubing Support Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant

Gabriela Sanchez, project engineer and test coordinator for EM Richland Operations Office contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, checks on a pipeline project supporting the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

RICHLAND, Wash. – EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) recently installed piping and tubing to provide critical water and network data infrastructure to the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP).

The 2 ½ miles of new piping will deliver drinking and cooling water to various plant systems and facilities supporting the treatment of waste from large underground tanks under the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program. Crews will add network fiber-optic lines to the installed tubing later, as the plant gets closer to starting treatment operations.

“Reliable infrastructure supports an increased pace of cleanup as the Hanford Site transitions to 24/7 operations at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant and performs critical remediation work,” said Sharee Dickinson with RL’s infrastructure and services division. “This project offers backup coverage for existing water lines and reduces the risk of an outage.”

Hanford Mission Integration Solutions subcontractors recently installed a new water pipeline to support the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at the Hanford Site.

Workers connected a new pipe with an existing one on the Hanford Site, providing a reliable water source to the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

Crews cleared each area along the installation route to stage parts before beginning excavations. Once a pipe or tube was placed, crews tested them to make sure they were in working order. After filling in and covering the excavated areas with soil, workers planted native foliage to begin restoring the landscape.

“During the excavation, our team also added a connection that joined with piping already in place, plus made successful repairs to a sewer line in need of work,” said Frank Mendez, project manager for HMIS. “Completing this project ensures WTP will have a reliable source of sanitary water.”

-Contributor: Robin Wojtanik

Emergency Services Organizations Receive $90,000 in Donations From West Valley

West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) representatives recently presented checks to three local emergency services organizations for providing services to the WVDP site. From left are Paul Bembia, director of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Jennifer Dundas, EM WVDP safety and site programs leader; Bryan Bower, EM WVDP director; Eric Boberg, chairman of the West Valley Fire District #1 Board of Fire Commissioners; Derrick Miller, West Valley Fire District #1 commissioner; John Rendall, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) president and general manager; Dave Schuman, CHBWV safeguards and security manager; and Kevin Murray, CHBWV senior emergency management specialist.

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) joined the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to give $90,000 in donations to Mercy Flight, West Valley Fire District #1 and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital on behalf of the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP).

The three organizations serve as valuable resources for WVDP employees and the surrounding community. The fire district, which handles fire and emergency services in the event of an incident, received $80,000. The hospital, which provides medical support, and Mercy Flight, which maintains air ambulance service, received $5,000 apiece.

“We understand the importance and benefit to our workforce for having trained emergency responders supporting the project,” said Jennifer Dundas, EM WVDP safety and site programs leader. “We appreciate their continued commitment and effort to protect the health and safety of our workers and the community. All three organizations ensure readiness at a moment’s notice, which makes a difference in the outcome of any emergency related situation.”

Paul Bembia, program director at NYSERDA, commended the organizations for their assistance. EM and CHBWV conduct cleanup at the site in cooperation with NYSERDA.

“The men and women who work and volunteer for these organizations play a vital role in providing care in emergency situations,” Bembia said. “Their partnership speaks volumes to their dedication and commitment to the site, but also to the community they serve. We thank them for their service.”

CHBWV President and General Manager John Rendall noted that the three emergency services organizations provide an extra level of care for all employees.

“Our employees are fortunate to have these dedicated organizations available should the need arise,” Rendall said.

-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere

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