RICHLAND, Wash. - Workers continue to transform the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) landscape as they tear down two of its four main facilities.
While the Hanford Site experienced near-record snow, ice and below-freezing weather, EM Richland Operations Office contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CH2M) redeployed demolition crews inside the remaining two buildings to remove hazards and prepare for demolition.
“We reacted in a safe, timely manner throughout this rough winter," said Tom Teynor, EM PFP project director. “The crews, work planners and PFP management did a great job being flexible and allowing risk-reduction progress to continue inside, despite what was happening outside."
Crews have removed about 82 percent of more than 7,100 feet of contaminated process piping, about 80 percent of asbestos and about 69 percent of contaminated ventilation ductwork in the main processing facility and fan house. Demolition on those facilities is expected to start in May.
The team lost about 25 days of demolition due to late starts, early releases and site closures in the cold, snowy weather. Dust suppression equipment using water was at risk of freezing, and the hoods demolition employees wear to protect against contamination fogged up in the cold weather, putting employees at greater risk of falling on icy surfaces.
With the deep freeze thawing, demolition will advance on the Americium Recovery and Plutonium Reclamation facilities (PRF). Demolition on those buildings is expected to be complete in March and May, respectively.
CH2M implemented a robust monitoring and site-control system for demolition. This strategy worked, as demonstrated when a continuous air monitor (CAM) sounded near the demolition zone in late January.
“Our controls were effective during demolition of PRF. It wasn’t until we moved the rubble pile that the CAM alarm sounded," said Tom Bratvold, CH2M vice president for PFP.
No employees were hurt, and no contamination left restricted areas. Following the incident, the PFP team conducted a critique and adopted more robust dust-control measures for debris pile relocation.
“This is challenging and hazardous work," said Hans Showalter, PFP worker safety representative for Hanford Atomic Metals Trades Council employees. “We’re committed to performing the work safely, finishing PRF, the Americium Recovery Facility and moving onto the rest of PFP."
In coming weeks, crews will shut off power to the main facility and switch to temporary power, making it more efficient for crews to remove walls and ceilings for asbestos removal.
Outside, hazard mitigation, site control and extensive monitoring continue as crews demolish the main processing facility in a zone-by-zone sequence to ensure structural stability throughout teardown. Demolition will progress concurrently through the main facility, fan house and ventilation stack.
PFP demolition is expected to be complete by September 2017.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
