News Releases
2013
2012
2011
$15,000 Bechtel gift supports prosthetic arm competition
Thu, April 25, 2013RICHLAND, Wash. — Nearly 250 middle and high school students from southeastern Washington challenged each other to build a better prosthetic arm thanks to a $15,000 gift from Bechtel National Inc. to the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program of Yakima Valley/Tri-Cities.
"For more than twenty years, MESA has bridged the opportunity gap for underrepresented students to help them envision a …
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Bechtel National and WTP featured in ASSE Professional Safety journal
Thu, March 21, 2013Bechtel National, Inc., and the Waste Treatment Plant will be featured in the April 2013 edition of Professional Safety Journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers for its donation to the Washington State STEM Education Foundation. BNI provided a $250,000 gift for the Delta High School capital campaign to help support design activities for the new school in the …
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Bechtel engineer named Tri-Cities Engineer of the Year
Tue, March 5, 2013RICHLAND, Wash. — March 5, 2013 — Bechtel engineer John Olson was named 2012 Tri-Cities Engineer of the Year as part of National Engineers' Week. Olson was recognized for his significant technical contributions to the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant and his active involvement in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers at the local and national levels. He received the annual …
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Bechtel National gives $250,000 to build Delta High School
Wed, January 30, 2013RICHLAND, Wash.–Bechtel National Inc. provided a $250,000 gift today to the Washington State STEM Education Foundation for the Delta High School capital campaign.
“STEM education in the Tri-Cities wouldn’t be possible without the community working together to make it happen,” said Tom Yount, president of the Washington State STEM Education Foundation. “Bechtel’s gift is an example of this community partnership …
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Vit Plant employees donate $20,000 to Toys for Tots
Thu, December 13, 2012RICHLAND, Wash. — Employees at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, donated toys, 1,000 bicycles and nearly $20,000 in cash to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves' Toys for Tots campaign at the construction site this morning. Marines were present to accept the donation.
"The efforts of the Vit Plant employees are a huge part of …
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Vit Plant employees surpass 13 million hours without a day-away-from-work injury
Fri, October 5, 2012Richland, Wash. — Employees of the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, have surpassed 13 million hours without a day away from work due to an injury, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
"It has been more than two years since we've had a day-away-from-work accident," said Project Director Frank Russo. …
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Vit Plant receives first shipment of shield windows for radioactive facilities
Wed, October 3, 2012Richland, Wash. — Workers at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, have received the first of 87 specially designed, leaded-glass shield windows for the Pretreatment, High-Level Waste Vitrification, Low-Activity Waste Vitrification facilities and the Analytical Laboratory.
The windows are designed to work as a barrier between the radioactive and nonradioactive areas of the facilities and …
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Bechtel’s Waste Treatment Plant Project receives VPP Superior Star Award
Wed, September 19, 2012Hanford, Washington — Earlier this month, the Department of Energy awarded the Voluntary Protection Program's (VPP) "Superior" Star to Bechtel National, Inc.'s Waste Treatment Plant Project. This is the second year BNI has received this recognition. One of the ways in which DOE recognizes excellence in safety is through its VPP, which identifies contractors who meet the requirements for outstanding safety …
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Bechtel responds to DOE internal memo regarding safety of waste treatment plant design
Thu, August 30, 2012RESTON, VA, August 29, 2012— Bechtel today responded to a memo that questions the company’s ability to safely design the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), also known as the Vit Plant. The facility will treat 56 million gallons of radioactive waste currently stored in underground tanks in Washington state.
“Everyone who works on this project knows that at the …
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Vit Plant employees work 12 million hours without a day-away-from-work injury
Tue, July 24, 2012RICHLAND, Wash. — Employees working on the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant — better known as the Vit Plant — have worked more than 12 million hours without a day away from work due to an injury. July 16 marked two years since the last injury involving a day away from work.
"Construction is one of the most dangerous industries. …
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Bechtel donates $100,000 to build Columbia Basin College Planetarium Facility (
Fri, June 29, 2012Richland, Wash. — The proposed planetarium at Columbia Basin College should be open for students in October thanks to a $100,000 donation by Bechtel National Inc.
"Most of us can remember with wonder the first time we visited a planetarium," said Frank Russo, project director for the Hanford Waste Treatment plant, which is being built by Bechtel.
"This planetarium can help …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives melter transport trolley for High-Level Waste Facility
Tue, May 29, 2012RICHLAND, Wash. — Recently, the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received a specially designed trolley that will be used to safely and efficiently change out the High-Level Waste Facility melters. The 100-ton melters are central to the vitrification process and are designed for a five-year lifespan, after which they must be removed and replaced.
The carbon …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant sets six-ton exhausters for air-filtration system
Mon, May 21, 2012Richland, Wash. — Recently, the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received and placed three nuclear-quality exhausters for its Low-Activity Waste Facility. The six-ton exhausters are key components in a complex air-filtration system that will ensure the facility's air emissions meet strict environmental regulations and requirements.
The Low-Activity Waste Facility air-filtration system includes compliance monitoring equipment, HEPA …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives last massive shield door
Mon, May 14, 2012Richland, Wash. — The last massive shield door has been delivered to the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant." It weighs 102 tons and will be installed in the High-Level Waste Facility.
"Receipt of the last of the shield doors represents a significant milestone in progress on the project, and they are an integral part of the …
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Waste Treatment Plant employees reach safety milestone
Tue, May 8, 2012Richland, Wash. — Employees and subcontractors at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently surpassed 11 million hours without an injury resulting in a lost work day.
"Reaching 11 million hours as a project is an outstanding achievement that required every employee, whether at our construction site or in our offices, to work safely and watch …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant and Department of Energy to host public open house in Richland
Fri, March 9, 2012Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Project, also known as the "Vit Plant" and the Department of Energy (DOE) will host an open house, Wed., March 14, 5-7 p.m., at the Red Lion Hotel in Richland, Wash.
The purpose of the open house is to promote public awareness and support the project's efforts to be transparent and open. …
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Vit Plant receives national safety award for excellent hearing loss prevention programs
Tue, February 28, 2012Richland, Wash. — Last week, the Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received a 2012 Safe-in-Sound award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Hearing Conservation Association. Each year, this award honors companies that have demonstrated dedication to hearing loss prevention through their workplace programs and practices.
The Vit Plant, which …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant completes concrete design for largest facility
Tue, December 13, 2011Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Project, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently issued the final design detailing the structural concrete for the Pretreatment Facility. The final drawing represents the completion of the facility's concrete floors and results from more than 15,000 pages of calculations and 500 other drawings. These calculations and drawings provide the details that …
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Marines accept more than 4,000 toys for Toys for Tots from Hanford Waste Treatment Plant employees
Mon, December 12, 2011Richland, Wash. — Employees at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," donated more than 4,000 toys and over $10,000 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves' Toys for Tots campaign at an event this morning. Marines from Bravo Company, 4th Tank Battalion, were on hand to accept the donation.
"I am pleased to be back for …
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REMINDER: Hanford Waste Treatment Plant to host public open house in Richland this Wednesday
Tue, November 29, 2011Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Project, also known as the "Vit Plant," will host an open house, Wed., Nov. 30, 5-7:30 p.m., at the Red Lion Hotel in Richland, Wash. The purpose of the open house is to promote public awareness and support the project's efforts to be transparent and open. Vit Plant subject matter experts will …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant and Department of Energy to host public open house in Richland
Wed, November 23, 2011Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Project also known as the "Vit Plant" and the Department of Energy (DOE) will host an open house, Wed., Nov. 30, 5-7:30 p.m., at the Red Lion Hotel in Richland, Wash. The purpose of the open house is to promote public awareness and support the project's efforts to be transparent and open. Vit …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives and sets key air-filtration equipment
Wed, November 23, 2011Richland, Wash. — Last week, the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received and placed a key piece of air-filtration equipment in the Low-Activity Waste Facility. The nearly 100-ton carbon bed adsorber is part of a complex air-filtration system that will ensure the facility’s air emissions meet strict environmental regulations and requirements.
The extensive air-filtration system …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant completes fifth concrete wall elevation for largest facility
Wed, November 16, 2011Richland, Wash. —Last week, crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," finished installing the Pretreatment Facility's fifth elevation of concrete walls. The fifth elevation reaches approximately 97 feet at the top.
To place the final walls, crews used a specialized concrete pumping truck with an extendable arm that reaches approximately 200 feet vertically or …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives decontamination vessels for High-Level Waste Facility
Thu, October 27, 2011Richland, Wash. — Recently, the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received two decontamination vessels that are essential to safely removing glass-filled canisters from the High-Level Waste Facility. The titanium steel vessels weigh 4,200 pounds and measure 2.5 feet in diameter and 18 feet tall.
When operational, the High-Level Waste Facility will vitrify high-level radioactive waste …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives key equipment for air-filtration system
Fri, October 7, 2011Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently received the first of 32 large nuclear quality dampers for the High-Level Waste Facility. The 1,350-pound dampers are part of the facility's extensive filter system and will be essential to maintaining contamination boundaries during plant operations.
Twenty of the 32 stainless steel dampers will isolate …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives and sets key bridge crane in High-Level Waste Facility
Mon, September 12, 2011Richland, Wash. — Crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently received and set a bridge crane that is key to progressing construction of the High-Level Waste Facility. The three-ton-capacity crane needed to be in place before essential piping and hangers could be installed above and around it.
"It took an incredible amount of …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant welcomes review by leading nuclear safety experts
Mon, August 22, 2011Richland, Wash. — A team of executive-level nuclear safety experts is now conducting an independent and comprehensive review of the nuclear safety and quality culture at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP).
Members of the independent panel bring many decades of high-level experience working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy (DOE), and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant completes important mechanical installation in Pretreatment Facility
Thu, August 18, 2011Richland, Wash. — Crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently assembled and placed a more than eight-ton decontamination booth in the Pretreatment Facility. The booth will be used to decontaminate large pieces of equipment that must be removed from radioactive areas when they require maintenance.
"The decontamination booth is the first significant piece …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant places first complex piping module in Pretreatment Facility
Thu, August 4, 2011Richland, Wash. — Last weekend, crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," placed a 19-ton piping module inside the Pretreatment Facility. The module was lifted over 98-foot-tall walls and lowered into a space that provided less than two inches of clearance on each side and just a few feet on each end. It was …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant reaches design milestone for largest facility
Wed, August 3, 2011Richland, Wash. — The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Project, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently issued the final design for the concrete walls of the Pretreatment Facility — and celebrated reaching 60 percent complete.
"This additional design milestone — for the largest Vit Plant facility — further demonstrates that transition and our commitment to completing Vit Plant design in …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant welding manager elected as Bechtel Fellow
Tue, August 2, 2011Richland, Wash. — Richard Campbell, the welding manager at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, has been elected as a Bechtel Fellow. He joins more than 20 Bechtel Fellows from varying professional fields and organizations within the global corporation. Campbell is the first person from Bechtel's Construction organization to be named a Fellow.
Bechtel Fellows are selected for their …
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Construction continues to advance at Pretreatment Facility
Fri, July 1, 2011Richland, Wash. — Recently, Hanford Waste Treatment Plant crews lifted and placed a nearly 9-ton rebar curtain above the 77-foot elevation at the Pretreatment Facility. The curtain measures 36 feet long, 22 feet high and is the last curtain to compose the facility's fifth concrete elevation. Rebar curtains are used to reinforce the strength of the concrete.
When complete, the …
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Complex crane installations completed in Low-Activity Waste Facility
Thu, June 23, 2011 Richland, Wash. — Recently, crews working at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," completed four complex jib crane installations in the Low- Activity Waste (LAW) Facility. The 3-ton-capacity cranes will be used to place lids on filled LAW containers at the end of the vitrification process. This lidding procedure will take place in the …
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Bechtel donates $30,000 to CBC welding
Thu, May 26, 2011Issued by Columbia Basin College
Pasco, Wash. — Bechtel National, Inc., which is designing and constructing the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also know as the Vit Plant, has donated $30,000 to the Columbia Basin College Welding department for the purchase of needed equipment. Bechtel National has been a major partner with CBC with over $500,000 in donations for …
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Construction completed on water treatment building for Hanford Waste Treatment Plant
Thu, April 28, 2011Richland, Wash. — Recently, crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," completed construction of an essential support building. The building houses equipment that will filter and treat water that will be used throughout Vit Plant facilities during operations.
"The Vit Plant will require an estimated 400 gallons of water per minute during …
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Vit Plant crews finish complex cooling panel installations for Low-Activity Waste Facility
Fri, April 8, 2011 Richland, Wash. — Recently, crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," finished installing a series of cooling panels that are essential to maintaining a safe temperature in the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility. The panels were installed in the area of the facility where the 2,100-degree-Fahrenheit waste-glass mixture, the final product of the vitrification …
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Vit Plant engineers complete civil design of High-Level Waste Facility
Mon, April 4, 2011Richland, Wash. — Engineers at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," recently completed the civil, structural and architectural design for the High-Level Waste Facility. When complete, the building will consist of more than 87,000 cubic yards of concrete and more than 10,000 tons of structural steel.
"The High-Level Waste Facility is the most structurally complex …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant office employees exceed 16 million hours with no lost time
Mon, March 7, 2011Richland, Wash. — Recently, employees and subcontractors who work in the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant project offices reached more than 16 million hours — over 5 years — without an injury resulting in a lost workday.
"This is a tremendous accomplishment for our office employees and demonstrates their continued commitment to working safely and going home injury free," …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant receives key vessel for decontamination system
Wed, February 16, 2011 Richland, Wash. — This week, the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," received an enormous nuclear-quality vessel that will be essential to the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility's container decontamination system. The 65-footlong and 10-foot-diameter vessel will store carbon dioxide that will be used to clean the outside of filled low-activity waste containers before they leave …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant sets crucial air-filtration duct in High-Level Waste Facility
Wed, February 9, 2011Richland, Wash. — Recently, crews at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant," set a giant heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) duct in the High-Level Waste Facility. The nuclear-quality duct is part of the facility's extensive filter system and will be essential to maintaining contamination boundaries during Vit Plant operations.
The stainless steel duct measures 5 …
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant sets massive protective shield door in Pretreatment Facility
Thu, January 13, 2011Richland, Wash. — Earlier this week, an enormous protective shield door was set in the Pretreatment Facility at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the "Vit Plant." The 102-ton door was lowered through the roof and placed on top of an adjoining 85-ton door that was installed at the end of December.
"This installation was particularly …
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