  EM team members continue to demolish the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project as they begin removing hot cells within the facility’s analytical laboratory. Those cells were used during past fuel reprocessing and vitrification operations. A hot cell is a highly shielded room where activities involving high radiation levels can be safely performed.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – Crews at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) recently accomplished an EM 2023 priority after safely shipping more than 9,000 tons of debris from the demolition of the Main Plant Process Building this year.
The disposal of 9,000 tons of Main Plant demolition waste by workers with EM cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) also met a site goal for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. EM launched the demolition project early last fall.
Over the past nine months, crews have packaged and shipped by rail more than 500 waste containers from the project for safe disposal offsite. Each container was loaded with an average of 38,000 pounds of debris.
And since the demolition project began in September last year, workers have safely packaged and shipped over 10,000 tons of demolition debris in total.
 EM officials attributed the successful milestone of disposing of 9,000 tons of Main Plant teardown waste to extensive planning and preparation, an experienced workforce and adherence to safety.
“The WVDP team did an excellent job in their planning and preparation for this achievement,” said Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley director of technical services and Main Plant federal project director. “The coordination and communication between site crews was outstanding and ensured that the work was performed safely, compliantly and efficiently.”
West Valley is expected to ship by rail about 1,000 more waste containers from the demolition project.
“This mode of transportation represents a better method for waste disposition that’s safer and more efficient,” CHBWV Waste and Site Operations Manager Peggy Loop said. “It will help to accelerate remediation efforts in the future.”
 An EM worker uses a long-reach fork truck to transport full waste boxes from the Main Plant Process Building demolition area at the West Valley Demonstration Project to a rail line where they are shipped offsite for disposal.
Shipping the demolition waste by rail enhances safety by reducing vehicle traffic associated with completing the shipments via truck. Train shipments increase efficiency by allowing more material to be shipped at once compared to trucking. The train shipments also cost less than truck shipments, saving taxpayer dollars.
A 35,100-square-foot, reinforced-concrete structure, the Main Plant is one of the last remaining major facilities at West Valley. Its successful demolition will further reduce environmental risks and position the site for the next cleanup phase.
The demolition is expected to be completed in summer 2025.
-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere
 Following a recent annual planning retreat in Lexington, Kentucky, Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Manager Joel Bradburne, far left, addresses PPPO staff, contractor management and guests during a celebration of the office’s 20th anniversary.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In 2003, EM created the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) to focus on the safe and effective cleanup of the federal government’s two remaining gaseous diffusion plants at the Portsmouth and Paducah sites.
Twenty years have passed, prompting the office to hold events recently celebrating two decades of significant achievements.
For the past 20 years, PPPO’s workforce has made significant contributions to move Portsmouth and Paducah toward final cleanup, supporting national missions from construction to operations to cleanup.
PPPO Manager Joel Bradburne has been a part of the office for several years, starting as the Portsmouth Site lead. During his time with PPPO, Bradburne has seen an increased focus on “OnePPPO,” an enterprise-wide culture shift to encourage a team that works seamlessly together to share knowledge and ensure PPPO’s success.
“More than ever, I see an integrated federal and contractor workforce working together with intention to further PPPO’s cleanup mission,” Bradburne said. “This collaboration has been invaluable in accelerating successful transformation of our three key projects.”
 Bob Chancey, left, operations manager with Fluor-BWXT-Portsmouth, EM’s decontamination and decommissioning contractor for the Portsmouth Site, receives a commemorative coin from EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Avery, recognizing Chancey’s dedication to a project that resulted in the successful demolition of the X-326 process building.
 Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Deputy Manager Reinhard Knerr, center, speaks to members of the workforce during PPPO’s 20th anniversary celebration at the Paducah Site.
Since 2003, PPPO team members have demolished over 2 million square feet of buildings, treated over 1 million gallons of contaminated groundwater, converted over 7,000 depleted uranium hexafluoride cylinders and transferred more than 300 acres of land to the community for economic development.
At the Portsmouth and Paducah sites, more than 3,000 federal and contractor employees recently gathered for a lunch. There, members of senior management spoke in appreciation for the employees’ hard work and dedication, expressed pride about their accomplishments and highlighted priorities for cleanup projects.
Bradburne closed the celebrations with a message to the PPPO workforce.
“Thank you, thank you for your hard work, and thank you for your commitment to safety that has been a key contributor to 20 years of success for the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office,” Bradburne said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – EM Communications Director Erik Olds provided the keynote address at the Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association 2023 Business Opportunities & Technical Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 4. The non-profit trade association represents more than 200 small, mid-sized and large companies that provide services to government clients, including many DOE programs, and its annual conference attracts hundreds of industry and government leaders from across the region. Among the topics covered at the conference: business opportunities across the EM complex, modernizing infrastructure to accommodate emerging needs, human capital needs and clean-energy initiatives.
 Crews use heavy equipment to demolish the sludge retrieval annex at the K West Reactor at the Hanford Site.
Watch these time lapse videos of the K West Annex and 203-A Acid Storage Area going down.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Crews with EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company recently completed two key demolition projects, moving the risk-reduction mission forward at the Hanford Site.
In early August, crews began demolition of the K West Annex. The annex supported the packaging and transferring of radioactive sludge from the K West Reactor spent-fuel basin to Hanford’s T Plant for interim storage. The removal of the annex follows the successful completion of the sludge removal project in 2019.
The demolition paves the way for ongoing cleanup efforts near the Columbia River, including the deactivation and demolition of a 1.2 million-gallon spent-fuel basin.
 Crews demolish empty chemical tanks at a Hanford Site plant that processed most of the site’s reactor fuel rods.
Simultaneously, crews demolished nine tanks and infrastructure at a chemical storage area that once supported Hanford’s Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant (PUREX). To prepare the site for demolition, workers removed materials containing asbestos along nearly 2,000 feet of pipeline, and they disconnected mechanical and electric systems.
The plant played a key role in Hanford’s plutonium production mission during the Cold War era. It supplied about two-thirds of the plutonium produced by the United States.
“Projects like these are very visual examples of ongoing risk-reduction activities across the Hanford Site,” said Andy Wiborg, EM Projects and Facilities Division team lead for Hanford’s Central Plateau Cleanup Project. “Our teams continue to make tremendous progress to safely and efficiently advance our critical cleanup mission.”
-Contributor: Dieter Bohrmann
 One of the biggest soil remediation projects is happening on the footprint of the former K-25 Building at the East Tennessee Technology Park. All soil remediation projects there are scheduled to be complete next year.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Strengthened partnerships and recent changes to regulatory frameworks are leading to impressive results with EM’s cleanup in Oak Ridge.
Over the past three years, the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and its contractor UCOR have started and completed the most remedial actions, or restorative cleanup tasks, of any DOE site.
Together, OREM and UCOR have completed 61% of DOE’s total remedial actions and started 80% of the new actions over that span.
 The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management accounted for 84% of the total volume of soil remediation for DOE’s completed remedial actions from 2020 through 2022. Much of that came from projects at the East Tennessee Technology Park.
 Soil with high levels of contaminants is loaded in containers and shipped out of state for disposal, while soil with low levels of contaminants goes to the onsite Environmental Management Waste Management Facility at Oak Ridge.
A new regulatory partnership framework established in recent years by OREM with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and UCOR is ushering in a new chapter of accelerated cleanup.
“Our organizations are experiencing returns on the investments we’ve made to better understand the issues and the interests of our partners,” said Erin Sutton, director of OREM’s Quality and Mission Support Division. “It’s leading to decisions and clear direction so our workforce can continue their momentum.”
The framework aids decision-making and approvals needed to conduct cleanup operations at the three major cleanup sites on DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation: the East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.
Management representatives from each organization — OREM, EPA, TDEC and UCOR — serve on a leadership team that sets programmatic goals for the cleanup mission. These goals are communicated to the staff through a selected group of employees identified as the emerging issues team. Designed to identify potential roadblocks and enable resolution on staff-level issues, these teams work cooperatively to resolve regulatory challenges and improve communication so the agencies can make protective, timely decisions.
 Representatives from the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and UCOR recently gathered for a meeting to share perspectives and discuss potential efficiencies that can benefit future projects.
Through this structure and steady progress in the field by employees, OREM and UCOR have accomplished remarkable achievements.
Since 2020, OREM and UCOR have been responsible for 84% of the total volume of soil remediation, 91% of debris, 100% of sediment, and 98% of treated wastewater for DOE’s completed remedial actions.
Those tallies equate to 385,000 cubic yards of soil, 31,915 cubic yards of debris, 1,234 cubic yards of sediment and 941,000 gallons of wastewater.
OREM, EPA, TDEC and UCOR are not stopping there. The organizations are working to make continual improvements. They recently held a joint meeting to share perspectives, discuss potential efficiencies and plan ahead for major upcoming work that can benefit future projects.
-Contributor: Ben Williams
 Students and faculty of Clinton College tour EM's Savannah River National Laboratory.
AIKEN, S.C. – EM’s Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) hosted a consortium of students and professors from Clinton College for an experiential excursion that included job shadowing and a tour of scientific laboratories.
Clinton College, a minority serving institution, is one of eight academic institutions in South Carolina that share $20 million in fiscal year 2022 funding from EM’s Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP). The program’s mission is to develop the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math leaders. The Technology, Curriculum and Professional Development component of the EM MSIPP provided Clinton College with the capital and academic resources necessary to launch its Industrial Cybersecurity Program.
“I have never been more astounded with the wealth of knowledge I obtained from you [SRNL] all,” Clinton College student Tiffany O’Rilley said. “I really enjoyed the meteorology center and bio-printing-molding of human implants. That was really inspiring and interesting. It's exciting that there will be open doors to future internships soon and I hope to be a part of them and possibly get an internship-to-hire as well.”
SRNL provided experiential learning opportunities to the students and professors by exposing them to real-world scientific environments, laboratories and resources. Technical presentations, job shadowing, and tours in areas such as bio-environmental, cybersecurity, remote operations in shielded cells, additive manufacturing, and atmospheric technology were among the tangible enrichment experiences and on-the-job contextual learning opportunities.
“I am amazed by the incredible amount of opportunities SRNL has for students and faculty members,” Clinton College Cybersecurity Director Brahima Mbodje said.
Students and faculty gained critical insights into various fields of science, witnessed cutting-edge research and met with SRNL experts. Their visit provided valuable insights into technologies and opportunities unique to DOE national laboratories. These exposures and interactions spark ideas for partnerships and collaborations between scientists, engineers and faculty members, paving the way for future student opportunities, inspiring EM career pathways and providing networking opportunities.
EM MSIPP Technical Liaison Simona Murph said it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the excitement and desire of academic institutions to connect with the SRNL scientific community.
“By bridging faculty mentors and students with the DOE communities, we can build and nurture a sustainable workforce for generations to come. SRNL: the bridge to tomorrow,” Murph said.
 Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) employees observe stringent safety standards while moving a 10-foot-tall, stainless steel canister that will be filled with vitrified high-level waste at the Defense Waste Processing Facility. In September 2023, SRMC’s total workforce surpassed 10 million hours without an injury resulting in an employee being unable to return to work the next day.
AIKEN, S.C. – EM’s liquid waste workforce at the Savannah River Site (SRS) recently surpassed 10 million safe working hours, proving that embracing a culture that puts safety first helps prevent serious injuries.
Liquid waste contractor Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) exceeded 10 million safe hours earlier this month. The term “safe hours” represents the hours worked without an occupational-related injury or illness that results in the employee’s inability to return to work the next day. The current count has continued since April 2022, shortly after SRMC assumed operations of the SRS liquid waste program.
Jim Folk, DOE-Savannah River’s assistant manager for waste disposition, said safety has always been a value at SRS.
“We are proud of the safety culture that we nurture at SRS,” Folk said. “Time and again, we see that the best way to perform the job is also the safest way.”
Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that a company the size of SRMC — which has 3,700 employees — in the hazardous waste treatment and disposal industry, with over 10 million working hours, would expect to experience 40 cases on average that would keep an employee from returning to work the next day.
SRMC President and Program Manager Dave Olson said the company always puts the safety of its employees first, noting that safety is one of the company’s four core values.
“In every job we perform, we consider the safety of the workers performing that job,” Olson said. “As we plan a task, we must always ask the question, ‘What could go wrong?’ We must question the processes that could pose a safety hazard and plan accordingly.”
Since the 10 million safe hours count began, SRMC has performed numerous high-hazard operations and maintenance tasks that include transfers of hazardous and radioactive liquid waste from underground tanks, and treating and immobilizing the waste.
“The work being performed across the entire SRS Liquid Waste Program is a one-of-a-kind challenge,” Olson said. “To accomplish so much with this safety record speaks highly of our team.”
Click here to watch a video in which SRMC employees explain why safety is important to them.
-Contributor: Jim Beasley
 At the Portsmouth Site Carpentry Shop, Fluor-BWXT employees demonstrate routine work activities for the Stretch & Flex program team during field evaluations to identify the presence of any safety or ergonomic issues. From left: Zachariah Henson, Troy Joyce, Bill Conley, Tony Lore and John Doss.
PIKE COUNTY, Ohio – Ergonomics, the study of people's efficiency in their work environment, is paramount to working safely, whether in the office or in the field.
That’s why Portsmouth Site deactivation and demolition contractor Fluor-BWXT partnered with local healthcare provider Adena Health System to offer the Stretch & Flex Program.
“Ergonomics plays a key role in safety,” Ergonomic Assessment Specialist Andrea Gobel said. “As we observe staff members performing their daily tasks, we evaluate what postures, repetitive motions and force may put them at risk for injury.”
The Stretch & Flex team recently visited the Portsmouth Site to conduct field evaluations and speak to workers about the physical demands of their jobs. At one visit to the Carpentry Shop, employees demonstrated routine work activities, including using saws and forklifts. And after observing the carpenters disassembling scaffolding at a facility, the team customized warm-up routines to target their specific needs.
“Many of our work-related injuries are soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons and ligaments,” said Occupational Safety & Health Manager Elise Allison. “Programs like Stretch & Flex will help identify and modify at-risk activities as well as provide for overall improvement in worker flexibility to reduce injuries from common everyday activities.”
 Adena Health System Ergonomic Assessment Specialist Andrea Gobel, left, talks to Fluor-BWXT Project Support Associate Debbie Adkins about how to reduce strain at her work station.
During one evaluation, Adena’s ergonomic specialist identified a solution to reduce strain by adding a small platform for the keyboard, moving it closer to the worker. This small action would help prevent unnecessary eye strain and allow the worker to sit ergonomically correct, preventing back strain.
Some groups have already incorporated stretches into their morning routines to improve flexibility and strengthen muscles.
“We began our morning stretching routine in May of this year,” Project Support Associate Debbie Adkins said. “We do this each morning as different people take turns leading the stretches. Over the following weeks, more and more people have joined as it’s become a team-building activity as well as a benefit to our bodies.”
-Contributor: Michelle Teeters
 Information Technician Chris Martin from EM contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions takes part in a recent power outage simulation on the Hanford Site.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Teams with EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) ran disaster scenarios recently by temporarily deactivating a Hanford Site data center to test the network’s ability to protect critical data.
“Drills provide stress tests of our network system and help us prepare for a potential disaster,” said Mike Eddy, IT specialist with the EM information management team. “Regular checkups verify our system can handle an unplanned outage or even the destruction of a data center.”
Preparations for the drill included upgrading systems and equipment; running emergency sequences to improve data preservation and retention; and testing a backup power supply.
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Technicians participate in an exercise at a data center on the Hanford Site to simulate a power outage. |
Instrument Technician Scott Comstock from EM contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions helps put a Hanford Site data center to the test, running disaster exercises after upgrading capabilities. |
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“This exercise allowed us to practice our response to potential service disruptions and test the ability of our systems, equipment and processes to protect necessary data in the event of a power loss,” said Todd Eckman, HMIS vice president of Information Management Services. “I am pleased with the performance of our teams and systems during this important drill and feel confident in our ability to handle any event.”
During the outage, the team also tested the center’s continual power system that provides automated backup, battery-supplied electric power to confirm the system worked as expected and operations continued seamlessly.
-Contributor: Robin Wojtanik
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