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W I N TER 2 0 2 1 N EW S L ETTERR I C H L A N D W E S T R I C H L A N D K E N N E W I C K PA S C O F R A N K L I N C O U N T Y B E N T O N C O U N T Y P O R T O F B E N T O NIN THIS I S S U E :01Direct Feed LowActivity WasteConstruction Complete02Hanford WorkersRetrieving Waste fromAnother Single-Shell Tank03Washington StateDepartment of EcologyNames New NuclearWaste Program Manager0405Self-Guided Virtual ToursGive Public a New Viewof Hanford CleanupHanford ContractorsTransition inthe New YearFEATUREDWorkers at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant test the Low-Activity WasteFacility’s container handling system.Direct-feed low-activitywaste Construction CompleteNearly two decades in the making, construction is nowcomplete on the game-changing Waste Treatment Plant.The Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractor, Bechtel, celebrated thecompletion of construction of Hanford’s low activity waste vitrification facility.This facility, also known as the Waste Treatment Plant, willturn millions of gallons of Hanford’s tank waste into a solidglass form for permanent disposal.Mark Menezes, then-DOE Deputy Secretary also participatedin the celebration, saying it “marks a tremendous leap forwardfor the Hanford workforce and the Tri-Cities community.”The transition from construction to startup and commissioningmarks an important milestone in the evolution of HanfordCleanup. In taped remarks at the celebration, Senator MariaCantwell noted that building the world’s largest plant to treatradioactive waste is “truly a scientific and engineering feat.”She also added, “This is an unprecedented step towardcleaning up the most toxic site in the United States. andrestoring the Hanford Site to return it to the community.”From here, the Department of Energy and contractor BechtelNational will work toward starting up all systems needed totreat low activity waste, at which point they will initiate trialsof plant operation with a non-radioactive waste simulant. To read the full Tri-City Herald article, visit: rticle248312750.htmlWatch a video of the event HERE.SOURCE: Cary, Annette. (2021, January 6). ‘Engineering feat.’ World’s largest plant for nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford ready for startup. Tri-City Herald. www.tri-cityherald.com.hanford communities newsletter winter 20211

HanfordWorkersRetrievingWaste fromAnotherSingleShell TankFROM THE OFFICE OFENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTThe Office of River Protection (ORP) continues to make substantial progress in its missionto safely and efficiently reduce risk at the Hanford Site by managing and retrieving millionsof gallons of radioactive waste stored in massive underground tanks.ORP tank operations contractor Washington RiverProtection Solutions (WRPS) recently began retrievingwaste from single-shell Tank AX-104 and transferring thewaste to a newer, more robust double-shell tank for safestorage. To date, EM has completed waste retrieval from 17of Hanford’s single-shell tanks.“Moving waste into the double-shell tanksystem helps reduce risk to the environmentand allows for safe storage of the waste untilit can be treated.”tank — such as pumps and thermocouples — and installingwaste retrieval infrastructure in AX Farm. A thermocouple isa device that measures the temperature of waste.The infrastructure included a new ventilation system to filteremissions and a state-of-the-art facility that houses thewater supply systems used to support retrieval activities.The in-tank waste retrieval system consists of threecannon-like sluicers, a central pump, and six camera andlighting systems. Sluicers are used to mobilize the wasteand move it to a central pump.– Brian Harkins, ORP deputy assistant manager for tank farmsEstablished safety controls will be in place throughout theentire retrieval process. ORP and WRPS also used lessonslearned from previous retrieval projects to help keepworkers safe.Tank AX-104, one of four tanks that make up Hanford’sAX Farm, contains more than 5,000 gallons of highlyradioactive sludge-like material on the tank floor and 2,000gallons of the material on the tank walls. The retrievalstrategy for the 1-million-gallon-capacity tank involvesmobilizing the waste by using pressurized water directedthrough robotic sluicing equipment, then pumping theslurry to a double-shell tank for safe storage.“We have a highly skilled, innovative team with a strongtrack record of meeting the unique challenges that comewith tank waste retrieval. For all retrieval projects, wedevelop a thorough project plan, choose the right tools forthe job, and complete work safely,” said Doug Greenwell,WRPS retrievals manager. WRPS set the stage for retrieval of Tank AX-104 by carefullyremoving highly contaminated legacy equipment from thehanford communities newsletter winter 2021Pictured above: EM Office of River Protection contractor Washington RiverProtection Solutions recently began retrieving waste from single-shell tankAX-104 at the Hanford Site. The waste is being transferred to a more robustdouble-shell tank for safe storage.2

Photo courtesy Hanford Mission Integration SolutionsWashington State Department of EcologyNames New Nuclear Waste Program ManagerIn November 2020, the Washington State Department ofEcology selected a new manager for its Nuclear WasteProgram, which oversees the state’s regulatory role at theHanford nuclear reservation.Replacing Alex Smith, David Bowen started December 16after Smith took another state job at the end of October.He previously served as the Department of Ecology’sWater Quality Section Manager based in Union Gap.“I know Hanford is challenging and complex,” Bowen said,“But I’m excited for the opportunities it presents.”Bowen looks forward to engaging with Tri-Cities areacommunity members, tribal representatives and thoseinvolved with cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation togain a broad perspective on issues, he said.In an announcement released by the Department ofEcology, they said, “Bowen has experience building solidpartnerships with elected officials and local governmentleaders, advocacy groups and members of the public. Akey strength and interest is continuing strong partnershipsat the community, state and federal level to ensure thecleanup of nuclear waste material at the Hanford site.”hanford communities newsletter winter 2021Ecology, along withthe U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency,regulates environmentalcleanup at the Hanfordsite and is one of thethree Tri-Party Agencies— with the Departmentof Energy and EPA —that sets enforceablecleanup goals anddeadlines at Hanford.David Bowen on the job as theDepartment of Ecology’s new nuclearwaste program manager.Hanford is contaminated with radioactive and hazardouschemical waste from the past production of plutonium fromWorld War II through the Cold War. To read the original Tri-City Herald article, visit: article247157969.htmlFor more about the Department of Ecology, visit:https://ecology.wa.gov/SOURCE: Tri-City Herald Staff. (2020, November 13).Washington state picks new Hanford cleanup watchdog.Tri-City Herald. www.tri-cityherald.com.3

People who visit thenew Hanford Site virtualtours webpage can get360-degree views oflocations like the 200West Pump and Treatfacility. The virtual touristcan click on Informationand Media icons to getadditional details aboutthe project.Self-Guided Virtual Tours GivePublicaNewTHE OFFICE OFView of Hanford Cleanup FROMENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTThe U.S. Department of Energy, along with Hanford Site cleanup contractors, are unveilinga new public virtual tour platform of the 580-square mile site.In the past, Hanford offered limited in-person public toursin the spring and summer months as a way to engage thepublic in the Hanford cleanup mission. Since public toursare currently on hold, Hanford Site leadership came upwith the idea of a virtual tour with the intent of keepingthe public involved in cleanup progress while upholdingCOVID-19 protocols.Hanford’s virtual tour website is designed to be self-guidedand will be accessible to the public beginning January14, 2021 from the top banner of the www.hanford.govwebpage. While on the tour, participants can “visit” upto 20 Hanford locations with 360-degree camera views,accompanied with descriptions to provide context of thevarious projects. The virtual tour requires the use of theChrome web browser.“Hanford cleanup is one of the great public works of ourtime. We are excited to have the tools to expand publicawareness and appreciation of our important work withthe virtual tour,” said Brian Vance, manager of the DOE’shanford communities newsletter winter 2021Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection.“Some of the locations featured on the virtual tour wouldnot have otherwise been accessible to visitors due to thenature of our work,” he said. “By utilizing technology, thevirtual tour provides a superior experience and promotespublic engagement.”A map of the580-squaremile HanfordSite showsvirtual touriststhe geographyof past siteoperations andthe currentcleanup mission.Some of the tour stops include Hanford’s 324 Building,200 West Groundwater Treatment Project, and variousstructures associated with Hanford’s Direct Feed LowActivity Waste program including the Waste TreatmentPlant and tank farms. 4

hanford contractors transition in the new yearThe new year brought a fresh start for two prime Hanford contractors. Here’s a look at theorganizations that have a new look and purpose headed into 2021.hanford mission integration solutionsCentral Plateau Cleanup CompanyHanford Mission Integration Solutions delivers missionintegration, introducing new innovations and technologiesthat drive improvement of essential service delivery andenables the One Hanford cleanup mission. Comprised ofglobally-known and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)trusted partners — Leidos,Centerra Group, and Parsons— HMIS was awarded thenew Hanford Mission EssentialServices Contract at theHanford Site. HMIS will provideHanford Site services, includingsecurity and emergencyservices, land managementservices, and information technology services; managementof the Hazardous Material Management and EmergencyResponse (HAMMER) Federal Training Center; maintainingvital infrastructure; and performing infrastructure upgrades(e.g., electric, water, roads), as well as building futureinfrastructure to support operation of the Waste Treatmentand Immobilization Plant. Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) brings thedepth and breadth of three leading nuclear industrycompanies — Amentum, Fluor, and Atkins — making itthe single largest and most experienced nuclear EndState delivery teamassembled for theCentral PlateauCleanup Contract(CPCC). Withinour 179 years ofcombined nuclear experience, including 63 years atHanford, we have decommissioned 1,179 facilities anddispositioned more waste than any other U.S. company.Successful program delivery is a shared team goal. Wewill execute the project in an integrated and transparentmanner among CPCCo, our two teaming subcontractors— INTERA Incorporated and DBD Inc. — and our twosmall business protégés, Longenecker & Associates, Inc.and Lucas Engineering and Management Services, Inc. LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO CONNECT?Hanford Events CalendarSee upcoming events andpublic engagementhanford communities newsletter winter 2021Hanford Virtual ToursTour the Hanford Site virtuallyfrom your deviceFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA@hanfordcommunitiesHanford Communities5

(CPCC). Within our 179 years of combined nuclear experience, including 63 years at Hanford, we have decommissioned 1,179 facilities and dispositioned more waste than any other U.S. company. Successful program delivery is a shared team goal. We will execute the project in an integrated and transparent manner among CPCCo, our two teaming .