RICHLAND, Wash. — Employees at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, donated thousands of toys and nearly $34,000 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots campaign at the construction site.
“This year, the Vit Plant is providing nearly a quarter of the toys that will be provided to area families,” said Glen Carter, local Toys for Tots coordinator. “The Vit Plant employees consistently provide tremendous support for our local Toys for Tots campaign, and their generosity ensures that we are able to meet our growing community needs every year.”
Vit Plant employees designated $15,000 of the total donation to the Local 598 pipefitters’ annual Bikes for Tikes campaign. Each year, the pipefitters purchase and assemble more than 1,000 bicycles for Toys for Tots.
In 2013, Vit Plant employees and parent companies Bechtel and URS donated more than $570,000 to community organizations and charities. Recipients included the United W ay of Benton and Franklin Counties, Second Harvest, Junior Achievement, March of Dimes and others.
“Vit Plant employees take pride in their community by consistently providing generous support to Toys for Tots and other organizations throughout the year,” said Steve Overton, Vit Plant manager of construction.
Local businesses Griggs/Ace Hardware and Vintners Logistics also contributed to the Vit Plant’s efforts. Griggs/Ace Hardware ensured the bicycle orders were fulfilled in time for Christmas delivery. Vintners Logistics will provide delivery for the toys and bikes.
For photos, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HanfordVitPlant.
About:
Bechtel National Inc. is designing and building the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment plant for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington state. The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), also known as the Vit Plant, will immobilize the radioactive liquid waste stored in 177 underground tanks using a process called vitrification.
Vitrification involves blending the waste with glass-forming materials and heating it to high temperatures. The molten mixture is then poured into stainless steel canisters to cool and solidify. In this glass form, the waste is stable and impervious to the environment, and its radioactivity will dissipate over hundreds to thousands of years.
The WTP will cover 65 acres with four major facilities – Pretreatment, Low-Activity Waste Vitrification, High-Level Waste Vitrification and Analytical Laboratory – as well as operations and maintenance buildings, utilities and office space.