  As part of their ongoing commitment to safety training, members of the United Steelworkers from the Portsmouth Site recently attended the Ohio Safety Conference. From left: Drew Oliver, Greg Fouch, Jason Knauff, Paige Cisco, Dave McClay, Alex Watts and Dusty Downour.
PIKETON, Ohio — Union safety representatives at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site have been busy expanding their knowledge to better serve all workers.
These safety advocates have attended multiple conferences over the past year, and taught at some of them.
Seven United Steelworkers (USW) safety representatives recently attended the Ohio Safety Conference to learn about new trends, including the latest technologies, and talk to experts about new research. The conference is hosted by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and is the largest free occupational safety event and expo in the country.
“All the courses that I took were very informative and had something to bring back to the plant site, from having a better understanding on industrial hygiene to knowing how to communicate better when situations arise,” said USW 689 Lead Safety Representative David McClay.
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United Steelworkers representatives Tonia Brown, left, and Paige Cisco from the Portsmouth Site attended the Women of Steel Leadership Development Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference focused on preparing women to take leadership roles in the union. |
Paige Cisco, USW 689 safety representative, attended the Ohio event and served as a trainer at the national Next Generation Conference in Pittsburg, Indiana. Cisco says the opportunity to be part of these programs focusing on health, safety and leadership has been beneficial to her day-to-day responsibilities onsite.
“With the USW empowering me to further my education, I feel more confident when things arise in the workplace,” said Cisco. “Having other USW members from all over the country come together with the ability to discuss and problem-solve with health and safety issues is honestly incredible. At these conferences, they give tools to help problem-solve, understand regulations, show leadership and develop communication skills.”
This year, USW members also represented the site at the Women of Steel Leadership Development Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Black Labor Week Project in Gary, Indiana. Union member Tonia Brown, USW 689 member, attended both conferences.
“Our union encourages and promotes education for all union workers,” said Brown. “The conferences recognized the need for diversity in USW leadership and women working in all job capacities. The conferences have provided incredible learning opportunities in health and safety, history, labor education, labor law, bargaining and enforcing contracts, legislative and political strategies, social justice activism, and communication. I’m thankful for the opportunity and encourage all union members to take advantage of the opportunities.”
-Contributor: Cindi Remy
 Stakeholders from eight U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup sites recently assembled for the EM Site-Specific Advisory Board National Chairs meeting in Oak Ridge. While there, they toured the site. They are pictured in front of the K-25 Viewing Platform under construction.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Stakeholders from eight cleanup sites recently gathered in Oak Ridge for the biannual two-day Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB) National Chairs meeting, where they heard cleanup program updates from EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Avery.
“The advice and the independent perspective that we get from all of you makes a huge difference,” Avery told the board members. “You give us a window into the communities that we wouldn’t have to understand issues and concerns, and it really makes us a better program. It makes us stronger and it leads to better outcomes.”
Members of the EM SSAB also had to the opportunity to communicate their local accomplishments and key items of interest to Avery. This two-way information exchange ensures communities near EM sites have a direct path of communication to senior leadership in addition to their local DOE leaders.
 Isotek President and Project Manager Sarah Schaefer talks to Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board members about the Uranium-233 Disposition Project, and how it is helping advance cancer treatment research.
Each spring and fall, members of the local advisory boards that make up the EM SSAB from across the country come together to meet with EM officials and discuss cleanup progress around the complex.
In Oak Ridge, Avery highlighted cleanup work underway at sites nationwide, including the completion of soils cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, completion of single-shell tank retrievals in one tank farm and initiation of retrievals in another tank farm at the Hanford Site and completion of Saltstone Disposal Unit 9 ahead of schedule and under budget at the Savannah River Site.
He also cited the Uranium-233 Disposition Project in Oak Ridge, which includes an innovative public-private partnership that allows employees to extract rare medical isotopes from nuclear material before it is processed and disposed of to support next generation cancer research and treatment.
Sarah Schaefer, who leads the project, provided the board members an overview of the history of that program and its potential benefits.
“The Department of Energy has an asset sitting there that was once considered useless,” said Schaefer, Isotek president and project manager. “And here we are able to extract it while we are getting rid of the security risk and the safety risk associated with U-233 and giving it to the people who can get it out into the medical-trial community.”
 Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board members tour the K-25 History Center to learn more about the men and women who built and operated the former uranium enrichment complex. They can be seen through a map that shows the sites that supported the Manhattan Project during World War II.
EM SSAB members also received program updates from EM officials, including Rodrigo Rimando, director of the Office of Technology Operations, Justin Marble, director of the National Transuranic Program, and Julia Shenk, director of the Office of Packaging and Transportation.
The multi-day event also included a full-day tour of the Oak Ridge site and an optional half-day workshop featuring emergency response training from DOE’s Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program.
The SSAB was created in 1994 to involve stakeholders more directly in EM’s cleanup decisions, providing advice and recommendations from a community perspective on site-specific and cross-complex cleanup activities.
Local site board membership, which reflects a diversity of views, cultures and demographics from affected communities and regions, is composed primarily of people who are directly affected by site cleanup activities. Members include stakeholders from local governments, tribal nations, environmental and civic groups, labor organizations, universities, industry and other interested citizens.
The local boards that make up the EM SSAB are the Hanford Advisory Board, Idaho Cleanup Project Citizens Advisory Board (CAB), Nevada SSAB, Northern New Mexico CAB, Oak Ridge SSAB, Paducah CAB, Portsmouth SSAB and Savannah River Site CAB.
-Contributor: Sara McManamy-Johnson
 Savannah River Nuclear Solutions employees, from left, Billy Vowell, Rich Brown and Tyler Handberry inspect the D Area solar-powered pump system that manages water infiltration in underground valve pits at the Savannah River Site.
AIKEN, S.C. — A U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor recently introduced an innovative, sustainable solution to the Savannah River Site (SRS) by installing a solar-powered pump system to manage water that infiltrates underground valve pits.
The initiative arose from an evaluation by Site Services Operations at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the site’s management and operations contractor, which identified the traditional method of removing water from underground valve pits as both inefficient and unsustainable.
The pits, constructed as durable concrete structures, house large valves that regulate nearly 50 miles of river water piping integral to SRS operations. Routine maintenance of these valves is crucial for the seamless functioning of the River Water System. However, the pits are susceptible to water infiltration from rainfall and groundwater, requiring them to be dewatered before maintenance can be performed.
“Historically, we had depended on diesel-driven pumps to remove excess water,” said Grace Lukaczer, engineer, SRNS Site Infrastructure. “While effective, this approach was cumbersome and time-consuming, and it contributed to increased carbon dioxide emissions.”
 Managing water infiltration in the underground valve pits helps maintain the D Area River Water Pump House, which provides surface water across the Savannah River Site.
To address those issues, the engineering and operations teams submitted a suggestion to the SRNS IDEAS Program to develop an efficient, environmentally friendly automated solar pump, Lukaczer said.
IDEAS, or Individuals Developing Effective Alternative Solutions, inspires employees to suggest innovative improvements. In fiscal year 2024, over 200 implemented ideas streamlined operations and yielded savings exceeding $6.1 million.
At the same time, the SRNS Area Completion Projects (ACP) was completing a solar-powered project. They transferred 19 surplus solar-panel assemblies to SRNS Site Services for reuse, avoiding the cost of disposing of them and buying new ones for the solar pump.
“This collaboration proved highly advantageous for both ACP and Site Services,” said Jeff Hall, utility commodities manager, SRNS Site Services. “With the solar panels in hand, we designed a pumping system — powered by the repurposed solar panels — that activates automatically to remove water from the valve pits.”
The integration of the solar pump exemplifies the SRS commitment to continuous improvement and sustainability. This project not only made effective use of excess materials, but it also reduced labor costs, minimized carbon dioxide emissions and extended the lifespan of the distribution system by mitigating water damage and corrosion.
“This project underscores the power of innovative thinking, collaboration and resourcefulness in driving meaningful change,” said Donny Barfield, director, SRNS Site Services. “By repurposing existing materials and leveraging internal expertise, we have achieved our objectives and established a new benchmark for sustainable practices at SRS.”
-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb
 Through an innovative public-private partnership, Isotek employees supporting the Uranium-233 Disposition Project extract thorium-229, which is shipped to TerraPower to support cancer treatment research.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — One of the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s (OREM) highest priority cleanup projects continues to advance efforts to develop and make available a promising form of next generation cancer treatment.
OREM and contractor Isotek are leading an effort to eliminate the nation’s inventory of uranium-233 (U-233) from storage at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
U-233 presents risks and is costly to keep safe and secure. Originally created in the 1950s and 1960s for potential use in reactors, it proved to be an unviable fuel source.
OREM’s project is converting that material into a form safe for shipment and disposal. Additionally, an agreement with TerraPower is allowing Isotek employees to extract thorium-229 (Th-229), an extremely rare isotope, from the material before it is processed and disposed of.
“It’s important to extract Th-229 because that isotope only comes from U-233,” said Sarah Schaefer, Isotek president and project manager. “Most of the world’s supply of U-233 is stored at ORNL, so once this material is dispositioned, no more Th-229 will be available.”
 Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes, speaks at an event in Oak Ridge celebrating growing partnerships that are helping provide rare medical isotopes to support next generation cancer treatment research.
Isotek extracts the Th-229 before it’s shipped to TerraPower. Then, TerraPower uses that material to recover actinium-225 (Ac-225), a medical isotope behind a promising form of cancer treatment called targeted alpha therapy.
TerraPower Isotopes announced last week that it has achieved another major milestone.
The company now produces Ac-225 at commercial scale, providing sustained access to the global pharmaceutical community through weekly production runs. As a result, this material is now used in multiple drug developers’ radiopharmaceuticals in human clinical trials across the globe.
“This scale-up of production capacity of TerraPower Isotopes’ Actinium-225 opens a new chapter in the development of cancer treatment options, and I’m proud to be part of the journey,” said Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes. “We are proud to be the first company to provide Actinium-225 at this scale, transforming how the pharmaceutical industry approaches cancer treatment with targeted alpha therapies.”
 Thorium-229 is extracted from uranium-233 (U-233) before the U-233 is processed and downblended for shipment and disposal. TerraPower then uses that material to recover actinium-225, a medical isotope behind a promising form of cancer treatment called targeted alpha therapy.
In treatments, the Ac-225 is attached to a molecule to selectively target and deliver the alpha-emitting radionuclide to a cancer site to potentially treat diseases such as prostate, breast, colon and neuroendocrine cancers, melanoma, and lymphoma, destroying the cancerous tissue with minimal damage to nearby healthy cells.
“We feel an incredible amount of pride that the gram quantities of thorium Isotek has extracted is now fueling clinical trials in cancer patients,” said Schaefer. “It is no longer something that will happen in the future. The time is now.”
Once all Th-229 has been extracted from the U-233 material currently stored at ORNL over the next four years — an estimated 40 grams — 100 times more doses of next generation cancer treatments will be available annually than are currently available worldwide.
Global demand for Ac-225 is expected to increase as more treatments are developed, making the work performed by OREM and Isotek more vital and impactful.
-Contributor: Ben Williams
 Workers at the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant monitor a safety system during a test inside the plant’s Low-Activity Waste Facility.
RICHLAND, Wash. — Workers at the Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant have completed testing key safety systems inside the plant’s Low-Activity Waste Facility, moving the facility toward commissioning to support the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program to immobilize tank waste in glass.
The tests are part of ongoing efforts to verify the ability of the LAW Facility emissions treatment system to respond to potential issues. The LAW Facility contains 37 secondary safety systems, each responsible for addressing different scenarios.
“These secondary safety systems help prevent an unlikely, unplanned event,” said Mat Irwin, Hanford’s acting assistant manager for the WTP Project. “The testing verified that the systems’ hardware and software work in unison, a key step in helping ensure operational safety at the LAW Facility.”
During the tests, workers electronically triggered each system to simulate a response to a pressure change, and carefully monitored and documented response times. The tests simulated scenarios of excessive or insufficient air pressure within the emissions treatment system.
“These tests required careful synchronization among 45 crew members spread across eight zones inside the LAW Facility,” said Rick Holmes, Bechtel National Inc. principal vice president and general manager for WTP. “Together they ensured that technical requirements of the tests were met, while also ensuring safety standards were maintained throughout.”
The completion of these tests moves the facility closer to fully demonstrating the reliability of its safety systems and ensures the emissions treatment system is ready for the next stages of operation.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site prioritize safety in all facets of their work, a commitment recently on display as employees deployed new tools to address the challenges of aging equipment and protect the physical well-being of the workforce.
The Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) Life Safety System team is responsible for maintaining and inspecting over 470 critical water-safety systems at its facilities. These systems include fire hydrants and valves used for automatic sprinkler systems, emergencies and connecting individual buildings to main water lines.
Many of these systems are over 70 years old, and during recent routine inspections, the team identified a significant ergonomic risk for employees performing the manual labor required to complete the inspections.
“The maintenance of these underground systems is a critical task that becomes increasingly challenging, both physically and technically, as the equipment ages and becomes harder to operate,” IEC Life Safety Systems Supervisor Dean Clark said.
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Life Safety Systems employees, including Jordan Harker, use specialized tools to maintain and inspect critical water-safety systems like fire hydrants across the Idaho National Laboratory Site. |
This portable hydrant and gate valve exerciser has allowed crews to more safely and efficiently maintain essential life safety systems at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. |
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With an understanding of the potential strain on the workforce, the team recommended the purchase of new tools.
For example, some of the water-safety systems require as many as 30 turns each way to open and close. One of the specialized tools is designed to aid in that process by performing the turns.
Clark says that tool, called a portable hydrant and gate valve exerciser, significantly reduces the physical effort required to complete the task and decreases risk of injury. The application of the new equipment also improves overall efficiency by allowing the workforce to complete maintenance at a quicker pace.
“By investing in this new equipment, we are not only safeguarding the well-being of our employees, but also ensuring our critical systems remain in optimal working condition,” Clark said. “The Life Safety System team’s foresight and dedication to both safety and efficiency embody our commitment to maintaining a healthy, productive workforce and reliable infrastructure.”
-Contributor: Carter Harrison
 Representatives from Murray State University tour the C-333 Process Building area control room during a recent visit to the Paducah Site. Earlier this year, the university received a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management grant to facilitate future use of the site and generate public involvement in outreach activities.
PADUCAH, Ky. — Representatives from Murray State University recently toured the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) Paducah Site as the two entities launch a collaboration supported by a $1.5 million grant the cleanup program awarded to the institution.
The partnership entails advancing environmental cleanup, facilitating the eventual reindustrialization of the site and conducting community outreach initiatives.
The tour provided university officials an in-depth understanding of ongoing cleanup work and future plans for the site. It also offered a firsthand experience to support the university's efforts to gather information on the site and community that will aid EM and its stakeholders as they plan future use of the site, advancing the decision-making process for the site’s cleanup and eventual reindustrialization.
“Murray State University brings a valuable perspective to our mission of a safe and successful cleanup at the Paducah Site,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “Their efforts will be crucial as we move forward with the environmental remediation and eventual reindustrialization of the site.”
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From left, Alex Sherwood, Sherri Powers, and Candace Alvey with Murray State University tour the C-300 Control Building to familiarize themselves with the Paducah Site as they begin work to support the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management mission at the site. |
The university’s role in the project will focus on fostering community engagement and developing educational programs.
“The collaborative work made possible by this grant allows us to learn from the community, build partnerships and engage in research that will make a meaningful difference in workforce development and site repurposing efforts,” said Renee Fister, the university’s associate provost. “We are committed to ensuring that our work benefits the entire region, particularly in the areas of education and economic development.”
The grant supports a range of activities, aligning with key aspects of the cleanup program’s mission at the site, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives in local high schools, public outreach programs and creative project opportunities for faculty and student research.
-Contributor: J.T. Crawford, Dylan Nichols
 Over 4,700 attendees visited the Augusta Convention Center to meet with representatives of hundreds of colleges and universities.
EM contractor awards $15,000 in scholarships at event
AUGUSTA, Ga. — More than 4,700 attendees recently filled the Augusta Convention Center in Georgia in search of higher education and career opportunities during the Savannah River Site (SRS) Central Savannah River Area College Night.
At the event, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) awarded scholarships totaling $15,000 to 15 local high school seniors.
College Night has served tens of thousands of participants and awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships over the last 30 years, according to Cindy Hewitt, SRNS education outreach specialist.
“This continues to be a huge night for high school students in our area,” said Hewitt. “College Night is the one night of the year where students can see all their options in one convenient location. Whether it’s higher education, military or apprenticeships — there is something here for everyone.”
 Fox Creek High School senior Elijah Byers accepts a $1,000 scholarship presented by Dawn Haygood, director, Office of the President and Corporate Communications, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, at this year’s Central Savannah River Area College Night.
This year, 177 SRS volunteers, seven sponsors, 114 colleges and universities, all branches of military and many local technical colleges came together for the event.
“Over the last three years, our school has transported students here to experience this incredible opportunity and to interact with counselors and colleges throughout the Southeast and beyond,” said Gregory Thompson, principal, South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, McCormick, South Carolina. “Some of my students are shocked to find what local schools can offer, especially in agriculture.”
Elyse Morrow, a senior at A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School, Augusta, attended College Night with her mother, Karen Morrow, director of the Remediation, Deactivation, and Decommissioning Division for the DOE-Savannah River Operations Office (DOE-SR).
“I can’t believe they pulled my name,” Elyse Morrow explained after being randomly selected for a $1,000 scholarship. “This is such a blessing as I look for nuclear engineering opportunities at my favorite universities.”
Karen Morrow said it has been heartwarming to see her youngest child experience College Night and take the lead on her college preparation.
“Some students are not aware of all the opportunities available or need extra guidance, so I hope College Night continues to take off and spark interest in students who need it most,” Karen Morrow said.
 EMTV: Watch a recap of the Savannah River Site Central Savannah River Area College Night.
Students and parents obtained information on educational opportunities and college admission requirements, and participated in seminars on scholarships, including HOPE, or Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally, and LIFE, or Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence.
In addition, DOE-SR, SRNS, SRS Apprenticeship School, Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility, Fluor, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Mission Completion, Centerra, U.S. Forest Service, and SRS Fire Department shared potential career opportunities and mission scopes with attendees.
“This is my second year as a greeter and college and university representative volunteer,” said LaQunia Bush, SRNS Site Services senior training specialist. “The SRNS Education Outreach Program plays a vital role in our community by offering these opportunities to young adults. I’m grateful to have been a part of such a positive and impactful event.”
 Central Savannah River Area College Night volunteers greet local students. Over 177 volunteers participated in this year’s event.
North Augusta City Administrator Jim Clifford attended College Night with his son, Jimmy, a freshman at Westminster Schools of Augusta, in search of military and technical school opportunities.
“I’m so appreciative of SRNS and the key sponsors for making this a regional event for kids to get a great cluster of schools from across the nation,” said Clifford. “We spoke to SUNY Cortland from New York, Florida Institute of Technology and local schools in South Carolina. I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend with my son and determine his college prep in high school.”
Click here for more information, or contact Hewitt.
-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Hanford Site Traffic Safety Committee recently shared a new video with site employees. It provides tips on commuting safely and common hazards to watch for while driving to, from and around the Hanford Site.
The committee was established as an advisory group to provide direction regarding Hanford traffic and vehicle issues and concerns. The committee consists of representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, prime contractors at the site, law enforcement and local entities affected by Hanford traffic.
As the Hanford Site integrator, contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions holds monthly Traffic Safety Committee meetings. They promote collaborative approaches to solving traffic safety concerns and provide recommendations for traffic safety to contractor leadership.
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