  Integrated Waste Treatment Unit operators monitor radiological operations during the current waste treatment campaign at the facility at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Cleanup Project crews have achieved a significant priority set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) by treating 100,000 cumulative gallons of radioactive sodium-bearing tank waste at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) this year.
The team has already far surpassed that total in 2024, processing over 142,000 gallons of the waste as of this week. In all, the facility has treated more than 210,000 gallons since the start of operations in 2023, which represents about 23% of the total 900,000 gallons of liquid waste stored in three underground tanks at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
“The completion of this EM priority is significant because it underpins our commitment to the state of Idaho and demonstrates our intent to protect the underlying Snake River Plain Aquifer,” said DOE Idaho Operations Office EM Manager Mark Brown.
 EM published a list of 33 priorities in January 2024 to complete during the calendar year, including construction milestones, progress or completion of cleanup projects, reducing the EM footprint, awarding accelerated progress contracts, and driving innovation and improving performance.
EM cleanup contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) resumed IWTU radiological operations in late August, following the completion of maintenance. Steam-reforming technology is used to convert the radioactive liquid waste to a safer granular solid.
The liquid waste was generated during the decontamination of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing equipment and transfer lines during the Cold War.
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The Integrated Waste Treatment Unit has outpaced a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management priority by treating more than 142,000 gallons of sodium-bearing tank waste at the Idaho National Laboratory Site this year. |
IEC Program Manager Dan Coyne thanked his crews for reaching this milestone.
“Everyone from the operators, engineers, to support staff have been committed to this project from the beginning,” he said. “This benchmark represents the first of many to follow. Thank you.”
-Contributor: Erik Simpson
 The Hanford Site recently met a 2024 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management priority with the treatment of 2 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater through its network of pump and treat facilities and wells.
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Hanford Site recently hit 2 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater treated in 2024, meeting a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) priority for the year nearly two months early.
“Our One Hanford team takes a lot of pride in the success of our groundwater program,” said Naomi Jaschke, director of the Hanford Field Office Soil and Groundwater Division. “Our sitewide network of wells and six treatment systems continues to work 24/7 to remove contamination from groundwater and reduce risk to the nearby Columbia River.”
 While EM annual priorities are measured in calendar years, Hanford’s individual site goals are measured in fiscal years. Groundwater remediation met a similar milestone this past fiscal year ending Sept. 30 when 2 billion gallons were treated for the 10th consecutive year.
Hanford has treated nearly 35 billion gallons since the site’s award-winning groundwater remediation program began in the 1990s.
 A Duke University research team learned about the nuclear industry and history of the Savannah River Site during a recent visit to Aiken.
AIKEN, S.C. — A research team from Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability recently visited Aiken for a firsthand view of the nuclear industry and history of the Savannah River Site (SRS).
The visit took place in late October during Nuclear Science Week, when SRS celebrates the vital role nuclear science plays in the United States and around the world.
“By connecting Duke University visitors with the site’s history and current missions, this daylong event bridges the gap between academic research and real world nuclear industry experience,” said Kim Mitchell, lead for Education Outreach with Savanah River Nuclear Solutions, the site’s management and operations contractor.
Part of a Duke University project titled, “Reexamining Nuclear Power in the Carolinas and Beyond,” the three faculty members and eight student researchers are exploring the historical context of nuclear power. The team is preparing a grant proposal for a yearlong project on the future of the region’s nuclear energy and aims to launch a publicly accessible website for unpublished documents preserved at Duke.
“We’re looking at the history of nuclear power in the Carolinas, but also thinking about the next 50 years of energy generation in the region,” said Tom Cinq-Mars, faculty lead for the project. “Our goal is to understand how nuclear power fits into the future energy landscape.”
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Ananya Misra, a sophomore at Duke University, tours the Savannah River Site Museum. |
A tour of SRS allowed the researchers to see the scale of site operations. Cinq-Mars emphasized the importance of the experience for students, noting it allowed them to move beyond textbooks and understand the real world implications of their research.
“Our students could see that this isn’t just a theoretical project,” said Cinq-Mars. “It gave them a deeper understanding of the political and funding complexities that come with managing nuclear material.”
The team also stopped at the Savannah River Site Museum and Café Scientifique, where they learned about the evolution of the nuclear industry and the environmental challenges of balancing nuclear weapons development with Cold War era cleanup efforts. The science café is part of a grassroots movement for informal science and technology education.
Sophomore Ananya Misra is one of research team members. She highlighted the value of the visit, where she connected the dots between the site’s history and her studies. As a public policy major, Misra was particularly interested in regulatory changes that have taken place over the years at SRS.
“This experience gave me a concrete understanding of how policies and regulations evolve over time,” Misra said. “For our project, I have compiled an archive of historical documents, and seeing the infrastructure changes firsthand really brought it all together. It’s fascinating to see how much significant development occurred in such a short amount of time.”
The team also attended a Center for Nuclear Technology Advancement (CNTA)-sponsored Edward Teller Lecture and a Nuclear Technology Expo dinner at the Columbia County Expo Center. The SRS Education Outreach team and CNTA partnered to help organize the visit.
“This tour provided an invaluable experience for our research group,” Misra added. “SRS operations is applicable to so many different fields — science, public policy, national security. There’s something to learn here for everyone.”
-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb
 An aerial view of the Alpha-2 building at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The massive 2.5-acre Manhattan Project-era structure stands three stories tall and measures 325,000 square feet.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and its contractor UCOR have kicked off the second phase of demolition at the Alpha-2 complex at the Y-12 National Security Complex, starting with teardown of the largest structure yet at the complex.
Crews have initiated demolition on Building 9201-2, also known as Alpha-2. The massive 2.5-acre Manhattan Project-era structure stands three stories tall and measures 325,000 square feet.
“Employees have worked incredibly hard preparing this facility for demolition since 2020,” OREM Project Manager Morgan Carden said. “It was a big task to this point, and now we have another large task ahead of us to bring this building down.”
The project also marks the first teardown of a former uranium enrichment building at Y-12.
Alpha-2 is categorized as a high-risk excess contaminated facility, and its removal eliminates hazards and opens land for national security missions moving forward.
 The next phase of demolition is underway at the Alpha-2 complex. This project is tearing down the largest structure yet at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The Oak Ridge Reservation contains more high-risk excess contaminated facilities than any other DOE site in the nation. These facilities do not support current missions, and they can pose risks to the surrounding areas due to their deteriorated condition and contents.
OREM and UCOR’s projects are removing these structures to enhance safety and enable modernization.
The previous project phase involved tearing down ancillary facilities near Alpha-2, achieving a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management 2024 priority.
“The footprint where we’re working is extremely tight, so starting demolition with the clearing of the Carpentry Shop gave us room to safely stage our demolition equipment and maintain street access around the facility,” said UCOR Y-12 Area Project Manager Chad York.
He continued, “Our crews did an amazing job to get us to this stage, clearing the structure and filling the building basement with more than 30,000 cubic yards, the equivalent of 3,200 cement trucks, of controlled low-strength material to ensure our heavy equipment can safely bring down the entire structure and remove the debris.”
Alpha-2 was constructed in 1944 for uranium enrichment using an electromagnetic separation process. The facility housed equipment monitored by the famed “Calutron Girls.” Although the equipment produced uranium-235 to fuel the first atomic bomb, those workers didn’t know what they were working on until after the bomb was dropped in 1945.
The demolition project is slated for completion in 2027.
-Contributor: Carol Hendrycks
RICHLAND, Wash. — Dozens of people from federal and state agencies and Hanford Site contractors recently gathered to celebrate completing the last of 77 environmental permits needed to start treating waste from Hanford’s large underground tanks. The achievement is a testament to the teamwork, integration and pride agency and contractor staff have in their commitment to cleaning up the legacy of producing plutonium for more than 40 years. Agencies represented were the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Hanford Field Office (HFO), along with Hanford Site contractors. HFO personnel pictured from left are Lori Gamache, Bryan Trimberger, Corey Low, Brian Stickney, Mat Irwin, Jason Young, Delmar Noyes, Heather Dale, Stacy Thursby, Kaylin Burnett, Robyn Burt, Stan Branch, Tracy Davisson, Paul Pak, Geoff Tyree, Will Ruane, Mike Demiter, Kyle Parker, Adolfo Perez, Brian Stetter, Tony McKarns, Wes Boyd, Gary Pyles, Richard Valle and Brian Vance.
 Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership Community Relations Specialist Steve Christmas, right, leads a tour group in the Paducah Site’s Central Control Building this past spring. Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership is the site's deactivation and remediation contractor.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) sites recently completed another successful public tour season boosted by an influx of visitors from across the country.
The Portsmouth Site in Ohio and the Paducah Site in Kentucky hosted more than 430 visitors this year, including guests from Alaska, Montana, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and Tennessee. That’s up from about 300 tour participants last year.
“Each year we see more people signing up for these tours because they are excited to see the work we are doing and learn about the plans for reindustrialization,” Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis said. “It’s a great way for us to connect with our community and give them the opportunity to learn about our work firsthand.”
 Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth Environmental Remediation Director J.D. Chiou, center, explains the importance of excavating contaminated soil for use in the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility and to provide contiguous land for reindustrialization during a public tour at the Portsmouth Site. Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth is the prime contractor for the Portsmouth Site’s decontamination and decommissioning project.
The guided tours allow guests to step back in time with stops at former central control facilities original to the construction at each site. They provide an in-depth look at the history, community impact, safety focus, current work and future use at each site. This year, the Portsmouth tour featured a stop to view a soil excavation area where a major cleanup is underway to address contamination and support the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility.
“It is exciting to see the community show interest in the past history, present progress and the future mission of the Paducah Site,” Paducah Site Lead April Ladd said. “Cleanup at the site is setting the table for future use for the community, and the tours are an important tool to ensure the public has the opportunity to get involved.”
 Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth On-Site Waste Disposal Facility Construction Facility Manager Jon Kirkendall, center, discusses the design for the facility and shares progress on its construction during a public tour at the Portsmouth Site. Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth is the prime contractor for the site’s decontamination and decommissioning project.
Whether they are retirees or individuals whose family members helped build the sites or worked at them, most tour participants have a connection to Portsmouth and Paducah. Some visitors even remember having to share desks with classmates in elementary school due to a surge in population while the sites were built.
Tours of the Portsmouth and Paducah sites are offered each year. All tours are free of charge and scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Check the PPPO Facebook page early next year to learn more about signing up for public tours in 2025.
-Contributors: Steve Christmas, Cindi Remy
 A view of the event, “STEM Like a Girl - Introduce a Girl to Engineering and IT,” at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center in Aiken, South Carolina.
AIKEN, S.C. — Nearly 60 eighth graders from area schools gathered for a unique event put on by the Savannah River Site (SRS) to inspire the next generation of female engineers and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders.
At the all-day event, “STEM Like a Girl - Introduce a Girl to Engineering and IT,” the students explored STEM careers through female-led activities at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. SRS management and operations contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) hosted the gathering.
“SRNS remains committed to breaking down gender barriers and providing young women with the tools and inspiration needed to pursue careers in STEM,” said Taylor Rice, SRNS Education Outreach specialist. “At SRNS, women make up approximately 20% of our engineering workforce and 27% of our information technology professionals. This event creates fresh perspectives, fosters innovation and opens doors for students who show an interest in those fields.”
 At left, girls operate and program robots with a volunteer from the M’Aiken Magic Robotics team; at center, Savannah River Mission Completion volunteer Betsy Booth teaches a student how graphite conducts electricity during the “Energy Ball and Graphite Circuit” activity; and at right, team members assess whether a structure they built is strong enough to withstand impact during a building contest.
Over 50 volunteers from all site contractors helped guide students through interactive stations focused on robotics, coding, and electrical, mechanical, design, and civil engineering. Students also watched engineering come alive on the big screen of the center’s DuPont Planetarium.
“After participating in the ‘Cracking the Code’ activity, I’m inspired to take more coding classes and possibly pursue a degree in software engineering,” said Olivia Praymous, a student at Greenbrier Middle School in Evans, Georgia. “It was an amazing experience working with new people and seeing firsthand how cybersecurity experts identify vulnerabilities.”
Annamarie MacMurray, an engineer at Savannah River National Laboratory, has experienced some incredible “full circle” moments over the past two decades volunteering at “STEM Like a Girl.”
“I’ve watched students who once participated in this program return to the site as engineers themselves,” she said.
 Over 50 Savannah River Site volunteers helped guide students through interactive stations focused on robotics, coding and engineering at “STEM Like a Girl - Introduce a Girl to Engineering and IT.” This “Energy Ball and Graphite Circuit” activity showed students how to conduct electricity, using their body to complete a circuit.
Olivia Cavero, a student at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School in Aiken, said her favorite part of the event was interacting with different types of robotics, from sensory devices to satellite tech.
“I’ve always been passionate about forensic science and criminology, and this event not only confirmed that interest but also introduced me to a whole new side of STEM,” she said.
Erin McCormick, an engineer with SRNS, described “STEM Like a Girl” as a “safe space” for girls to connect, learn and form new friendships.
“It’s incredibly powerful for attending students to see strong female representation in STEM. They see themselves reflected in TV shows, movies and on social media. Bringing that representation to this event helps them envision a future in a field where women can be underrepresented,” said McCormick. “Watching volunteers from the site come together to provide that vision was truly inspiring.”
Click here for more information about SRNS Education Outreach initiatives, and click here to watch a preview of “STEM Like a Girl - Introduce a Girl to Engineering and IT.”
-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb
 Washington River Protection Solutions President and Project Manager Wes Bryan, center, shows representatives from the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington Tree Fruit Association where spent ion exchange columns are stored after processing waste through the Tank-Side Cesium Removal System at the Hanford Site.
RICHLAND, Wash. — Cleanup progress at the Hanford Site generates interest around the world. That’s why the Hanford Field Office and tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions recently hosted a site tour for representatives from Washington state’s agriculture industry.
Farmers and agriculture workers drive Washington’s economy by producing over 300 different crops and exporting them worldwide. From apples and carrots, to wheat, potatoes, raspberries and hops, foreign customers purchase more than $16 billion of Washington-grown agricultural products. Agriculture industry experts often field questions about whether food is impacted because some of that produce is grown near the Hanford Site.
“Our buyers in foreign countries are aware of the Hanford Site and watch it very closely,” said Derek Sandison, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. “When the PUREX tunnel collapsed seven years ago, we immediately started getting calls from the Korean government asking if our food is safe. It’s important for us to know and understand what control measures are in place and how cleanup is progressing so we can confidently communicate that to our customers.”
 Hanford Field Office Manager Brian Vance, standing, far right, gives an overview of the cleanup mission to members of agriculture-related organizations at the beginning of a Hanford Site tour.
Sandison said he has had opportunities to explain how the site treats groundwater to prevent contamination from reaching the Columbia and Yakima rivers — important sources of irrigation water for the Columbia Basin — and how tank waste is being pretreated at the Tank-Side Cesium Removal System to prepare it for immobilization.
“We’re proud of the progress we are making with single-shell tank retrievals completed in the second tank farm, AX Farm, and continuing the progress in A Farm, as well as the recent completion of the Test Bed Initiative Demonstration Project,” said Ricky Bang, Hanford Field Office deputy assistant manager for Tank Waste Operations. “We appreciate productive partnerships with organizations and businesses, like those in the ag industry, that have a vested interest in the work we’re doing to protect the environment and are willing to share what they learn with their constituents.”
-Contributor: Jenna Roberts
 Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis sits behind the wheel of the Vortex Advantage for a test drive. It’s one of two training simulators recently acquired by the site to help employees complete training on heavy equipment in the classroom.
PIKETON, Ohio — The training department at the Portsmouth Site recently added new, innovative educational tools for heavy equipment operators in a safe environment. Training simulators will challenge them by creating real-time interactive situations in virtual environments.
“It’s extremely realistic and I’m excited to see our employees take advantage of this training technology,” Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis said. “The virtual training is an impressive tool to help us get the job done as safely and efficiently as possible.”
Featuring realistic sounds, warning signals, rumbling effects and touch-screen technology, the tools allow operators to practice rare, high-risk scenarios in the classroom while improving skills.
The simulators, called the Vortex Advantage and Vortex Edge Plus, will be used to further improve the safety of heavy equipment operations by developing better skills to work in changing and hazardous conditions, such as challenging weather, and to avoid incidents like tipping over equipment.
 With touch-screen technology, trainees can adjust their on-screen views to determine the best way to complete assigned tasks during training to operate heavy equipment at the Portsmouth Site.
Davis and Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP) Site Project Director Greg Wilkett slid behind the wheel of the Vortex Advantage for a test drive. Within minutes, Davis gained experience in “crab steering,” a steering method that causes the wheels of the equipment to “walk” sideways. Crab steering allows the vehicle to move diagonally and enhances navigation and maneuverability in tight spaces.
After boarding the Vortex, Wilkett practiced tasks that included lifting stacks of pallets to the third floor of a building. FBP is the prime contractor for the Portsmouth Site’s decontamination and decommissioning project.
“These state-of-the-art simulators are going to be very helpful in creating a safer environment for our employees,” said Wilkett. “They allow our workers to feel and see what it is actually like to operate the equipment in different environments.”
Seasoned instructors observe operators-in-training in person and view multiple screens to monitor their skills and techniques in real time.
“This training is certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and gives us the advantage of conducting training on the equipment without the risk,” said Hoisting and Rigging Manager Tim Williams.
 The Vortex Edge Plus has separate components that can be easily transported and set up for use in various locations.
While the Vortex Advantage is an all-inclusive unit with multiple screens, controllers, seats, and pedals, the Vortex Edge Plus has separate components that can be easily transported and set up in different locations.
“The simulators will help us train and assess whether someone is ready to operate the equipment out in the field,” Training Instructor Jason Smith said.
Training Manager Dana Leach said they spent nine months researching the simulators for use at the Portsmouth Site.
“We want our students to progress through the program. They must achieve 80% completion before moving to the next level,” Leach said. “Each trainee will have an account, and their progress and scores will be tracked.”
-Contributor: Michelle Teeters
 Kent Rosenberger, right, deputy director of Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality at Savannah River Mission Completion, was honored with the Nuclear Service Award by Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA). Jim Marra, CNTA nuclear technology adviser, presented the award to Rosenberger.
AIKEN, S.C. — The impressive service to the nuclear industry by a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has been recognized by a nuclear advocacy group.
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA) — a nonprofit out of Aiken educating the public on the truth of nuclear technology and energy — awarded Kent Rosenberger with the 2024 Nuclear Service Award. It was presented at the 33rd Annual Teller Lecture hosted by CNTA earlier this fall.
The award recognizes accomplishments in applying nuclear technology, advancing education in nuclear technology, increasing public awareness of the benefits of nuclear technology and in promoting and defending the safe and effective use of nuclear technology.
Rosenberger serves as the deputy director of Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality at Savannah River Mission Completion, which is the EM contractor responsible for treating and safely disposing of millions of gallons of radioactive waste remaining in underground tanks at SRS.
He has a 34-year track record marked with distinguished accomplishments that have advanced the nuclear industry, not only at SRS but across the nation.
In a letter of recommendation, Douglas Tonkay, former director of EM’s Office of Waste Disposal, said Rosenberger’s advice and knowledge are invaluable to the cleanup program.
“Kent is highly respected by his peers as a vital leader for remediating radioactive tank waste at the Savannah River Site, as a subject matter expert assisting cleanup at other sites, and as a contributor to the Office of Environmental Management for support in developing policies and technical requirements for safe and efficient management of radioactive waste,” Tonkay said. “In addition, his attention to detail on challenging issues and his insightful comments and recommendations have positioned EM for optimal success in achieving its mission at SRS and the entire complex.”
Some of Rosenberger’s most notable accomplishments benefiting the nuclear industry include:
- Being instrumental in developing the regulatory framework and performance assessments supporting successful operational closure of SRS radioactive waste Tanks 5, 6, 12, 16, 18 and 19;
- Developing the necessary waste determination and supporting performance assessment leading to DOE and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals for disposal of salt solution as low-level waste in the SRS Saltstone Facility; and
- Creating the SRS Radiological Technology Center, which was tasked with monitoring new technologies, equipment, and technical information; disseminating and implementing the information at SRS; conducting facility tours; and supporting vendor demonstrations.
Allison Hamilton Molnar, CNTA executive director, said it was a clear choice for CNTA to honor Rosenberger for this year’s Nuclear Service Award.
“Kent’s leadership in the innovative solutions to some of our nation’s most significant radioactive waste management challenges is quite impressive,” Hamilton Molnar said. “CNTA is pleased to be able to honor his nuclear service with this recognition.”
-Contributor: Colleen Hart
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