CH2MConnection
Demolition begins at West Valley Demonstration’s Vitrification Building... pg 3
In this issue... 1 Message from Dyan 2 Safety First 3 History of the Vitrification Facility 5 What’s Next? Major Milestones 5 A Day in the Life 5 C(H2M)ommunity
Leadership Perspective Many of you may have heard by now that, CH2M has entered into an agreement under which Jacobs will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CH2M. The combination unites two industry-leading, innovative companies with complementary capabilities, cultures and relationships. Applying CH2M’s advanced design, technical and program management expertise across Jacobs’ global footprint will enable the combined company to deliver more solutions to more clients in both the government and private sector. And as noted in company’s news release, CH2M’s preeminent brand for program and project delivery in large scale environmental remediation in the nuclear industry, coupled with Jacobs’ complementary experience with governmental agencies around the world, including nuclear decommissioning, creates significant business expansion opportunities. The transaction, which is expected to close in Jacobs’ fiscal 2018 first quarter, is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by CH2M stockholders.
Dyan Foss Global Managing Director CH2M Nuclear Sector
Volume 3 Issue 3 1 Oct 2017
Safety First CHPRC is one Year Closer to Receiving the Legacy of the Stars award “Recognition for employers and employees who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health hazards the development, implementation and continuous improvement of their safety and health management system” -OSHA’s requirements for programs to receive the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star of Excellence. CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company and workers at the Hanford Site continue to prove their commitment to safety on the site by earning another VPP Star of Excellence for the 3rd year in a row. Receiving this level of recognition requires the site to meet a variety of requirements in their health and safety programs, in addition to achieving recordable incident injury rating 75 percent better than the industry average and conducting an annual self-assessment to evaluate their goals and objectives. The purpose of the self-assessment is to ensure that the site consistently evaluates the safety practices of the site, while appropriately adjusting them to the site’s varying needs. CHPRC has been working towards receiving the Legacy of Stars award, which requires receiving the VPP Star of Excellence for four consecutive years in addition to having the U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters assessment performed in that four-year period. This award will be an incredible achievement for CHPRC and will take continues dedication to the 24/7 culture of safety.
Shout out CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC for achieving the Legacy of the Stars status in the Voluntary Protection Program. In order to receive this award, each and every one of the project’s employees had to be dedicated to their personal safety and the safety of the project 24/7 for the past four years. CHBWV was presented their fourth consecutive VPP Star of Excellence at the beginning of September 2017 for their efforts in pursuit of excellence in health and safety.
The History of the Vitrification Facility West Valley Demonstration Project
In 1996, vitrification of high-level waste created from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing begins, forming canisters with radiological doses ranging from 1,100 to 7,460 R/hr each. Until 2002, the vitrification facility solidified the HLW into borosilicate glass using the vitrification process. The Vitrification Facility in the 1980’s
This facility produced 275 stainless steel production canisters from solidifying 600,000 gallons of liquid high-level waste and sludge. Three end of process canisters were created during melter cleanout, resulting in a total of 278 canisters.
The West Valley reprocessing plant opens in 1966. During these years, West Valley operated as a commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, resulting in the generation of approximately 600,000 gallons of liquid high-level waste (HLW), which would eventually be vitrified.
1966-1972
1980s
1996-2002
The West Valley Demonstration Project Act of 1980 authorized DOE to conduct a cleanup of the site. The Vitrification Facility was constructed as a non-radioactive testing area for the vitrification melter. After the successful completion of melter testing, the facility was expanded and converted into a full-scale vitrification facility. The remotely operated 11,000-square-foot concrete Vitrification Facility stands 50-feet-tall with 4-feet-thick walls and roof, reinforced with structural steel and sided with sheet steel. The durability and large size would eventually require demolition workers to use heavy equipment to size-reduce the waste and dispose of it properly.
Vertical storage casks containing vitrified HLW 3 Oct 2017
In mid-November 2016, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) completed the relocation of 278 canisters of vitrified high-level radioactive waste at West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) in New York. This task was scheduled to be completed December 2017, meaning the team worked quickly, efficiently and safely to shave an entire year off their initial schedule. This unique project marked the first time in the U.S. that a commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant successfully vitrified high-level waste. The completion of the relocation allowed the team to move forward with the demolition of the Vitrification Facility where the canisters were being stored. In early December 2016, three 150+ ton vessels that previously held equipment involved in the vitrification process were safely relocated and disposed of offsite in Andrews, Texas. The steel packages were transported using rail cars. Included in these packages was the 195 ton melter, which famously converted the site’s liquid waste into glass through vitrification.
2013
CHBWV completed the storage pad construction to be used for onsite long-term safe storage of the canisters containing the vitrified HLW.
W on the onsite interim storage pad
Vitrification equipment being loaded onto rail for relocation
2017
2016
Demolition of the Vitrification Facility begins with the first bite on September 11, marking the first time in DOE complex history for a facility of this kind to begin demolition.
First bite being taken out of the Vitrification Facility
What’s next? Major Milestones Criticality Alarm No Longer Needed at Hanford’s Plutonium Finishing Plant Workers at the Hanford Site took a huge step closer to full-scale demolition at the main processing facility of the Plutonium Finishing Plant. Deactivation and decontamination activities, which have been underway at the facility for years, are coming close to an end. At the end of August, workers shut off PFP’s criticality alarm system. This system, deployed in 1981, would alert employees of criticality or unplanned nuclear reactions, requiring immediate evacuation of the facility. Due to the years of hazard reduction inside PFP, such events are no longer possible, therefore leaving the criticality alarm system unneeded. CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company will continue removing waste from the facility and isolating water lines before the full-scale demolition will begin of the main processing facility, the last of four main PFP buildings to be demolished. “The PFP team is the best in the business,” said CH2M Plutonium Finishing Plant Closure Project Deputy Project Manager Kelly Wooley. “We’ve done a lot, and we have a lot more to do. But as always, we won’t proceed until we can do it safely.”
A Day in the Life of Department of Energy Workers
Darryl Chapman
Delmar Gregory
Dwight Hurd
Demolition Area Superintendent at the East Tennessee Technology Park
Nuclear Chemical Operator at the Hanford Site
Department of Energy Hazardous Waste Driver
5 Oct 2017
In the C(H2M)ommunity Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Host Open House for over 2,000 Visitors In August, over 2,000 visitors gathered at the Chalk River campus of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to celebrate the site’s accomplishments. The celebration was a part of the 150th anniversary of Canada being a country. They reviewed the CNL employees past and present scientific accomplishments and learned about the cutting-edge work happening at their laboratories. The site is currently invested in clean energy, health, safety, environmental stewardship and security. The open house provided a variety of interactive and informative activities to inform the attendees about Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. It included up-close tours of the company’s world-class labs, hands-on actives, scientific demonstrations, presentations, equipment displays, food vendors, kids’ entertainment and much more. The purpose of the CNL open house was to allow others to see the amazing and fascinating work that happens at the laboratories every single day. CNL is hoping to inspire community members and the next generations to pursue careers in technical and scientific fields.
Take a glimpse into the life of Department of Energy Environmental Management workers around our sites. Meet some of our site’s most amazing workers and watch what a typical day in their life is like in their positions by clicking below.
Ronnie Hurd
Ray Lemmons
Lettie Chilson
Department of Energy Hazardous Waste Driver
Radiological Control Technician at the Hanford Site
High-Level Waste Project Engineer at West Valley Demonstration Project
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