February 3, 2009

TerranearPMC, LLC (TPMC) has completed a year long, $14M environmental remediation of the Hanford Site 618-7 Burial Ground for Washington Closure Hanford, operator of the U.S. Department of Energy’s River Corridor Closure Project in Richland, Washington.  The 618-7 Burial Ground consisted of three waste disposal trenches.  The northern most trenches received general waste (e.g., failed equipment, waste materials, and demolition waste) from uranium fuel fabrication operations.  In addition to the types of wastes disposed in the northern trenches, the southernmost trench, the “Thoria Pit,” received contaminated waste from the production of thorium-232 targets and other thorium-involved experiments.  TPMC’s work included planning, engineering and design, and all removal actions.

The remediation of the 618-7 Burial Ground included excavation and removal of over 178,000 tons of contaminated soil and debris that were disposed at Hanford’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF).  In addition, about 800 drums were excavated, investigated, and disposed at ERDF or at appropriate offsite facilities.  Many of the drums contained miscellaneous chemical wastes and radioactive materials including uranium- and thorium-contaminated materials.  TPMC also excavated two compressed gas cylinders and 16 stainless steel tanks, each about 10 feet tall, plus processing and piping equipment.

More than 100 drums contained chips of Zircaloy, a zirconium (Zr) alloy, with up to 5% beryllium (Be).  The drummed Zr chips/shavings were considered to be pyrophoric.  Fire prevention and control measures were used during the recovery and handling of these drums to minimize pyrophoric incidents.  To provide fire control and worker protection, TPMC designed, built and operated a totally enclosed, remotely-operated drum opening station, which allowed observation and screening before any approach by personnel.  Referring to the integrated work of Washington Closure, DOE and TPMC, Dave Brockman, Manager of the DOE Richland Operations Office said “It was the epitome of a well-planned job. The non-routine became routine.”

TPMC is continuing to assist Washington Closure with the environmental remediation of other Hanford 300 Area sites, including a current cleanup effort at the 618-1 Burial Ground.

About TerranearPMC, LLC (TPMC)

TPMC is a SBA certified small disadvantaged business (SDB) and participates in the SBA's 8(a) business development program. TPMC has eleven offices throughout the United States and serves Federal Agencies (DOE, DOD, EPA, DOI) and select commercial industries.  The company provides services in the areas of environmental remediation and compliance, radiological waste management, and engineering design and construction management.

TerranearPMC, LLC (TPMC) was recognized as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Protégé of the Year for 2008 at the 9th Annual DOE Small Business Conference.  TPMC has a Mentor-Protégé Agreement with Washington Closure Hanford, LLC (WCH), who is currently managing the $2.2B River Corridor Closure Project at the DOE's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State.