VNSFS currently supports D&D at the PORTS, Hanford and Oak Ridge DOE sites in the following ways:
- Deactivation of gaseous diffusion, radiological and industrial facilities at PORTS (Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant) in Ohio to ready them for demolition, reuse and re-industrialization. VNSFS performed a variety of site preparation work (roads, utilities, sedimentation ponds, cell construction, erosion control) for the On-site Waste Disposal Facility, which accepted its first waste in 2022. VNSFS also prepared the X-326 Process Building for demolition by constructing a Water Detention System around it.
- Operation of the 107-acre ERDF landfill at Hanford, Washington, DOE’s largest cleanup site. In addition to contaminated soils, debris and solid waste, ERDF receives other hazardous materials, such as mercury, asbestos, beryllium, chromium and lead, which can be treated onsite. VNSFS’ efforts over the past few years to safely package and dispose of large, contaminated items at the ERDF has resulted in significant savings for DOE. In January 2023, VNSFS and its joint venture partner, CTI and Associates, Inc., were awarded the contract to manage both ERDF and the Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF) at Hanford to support operations through 2029 (with options).
- Supported the dismantling and waste management of the Surface Ship Support Barge (SSSB), a WWII-era tanker that was converted into a refueling facility for nuclear-powered ships, for the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command. As a subcontractor, VNSFS provided radiological waste management services, on-site waste container handling and inspection services for the project. In addition, VNSFS leveraged its nuclear engineering services capability to design a dewatering system to remove, contain and dispose of residual radioactive liquid from the vessel’s “wet pit.” The project was completed with more than 200,000 combined safe man-hours, and no reportable or lost-time incidents or regulatory issues.
- Managed, treated, packaged and shipped TRU legacy waste from DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennesse for nearly a decade.
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Currently installing new sections of a security system at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. The project is called PIDAS, which stands for Perimeter Intrusion Detection and Assessment System. It is part of a Security Infrastructure Revitalization Program (SIRP) at Y-12 and involves replacing a portion of the existing PIDAS and upgrading other security features. Sandia National Laboratories awarded the contract to VNSFS and its partner company, CTI and Associates, Inc., in late 2021. CTI-VNSFS Environmental (CVE) is a U.S. Small Business Administration-approved mentor-protege joint venture. The PIDAS project is expected to be complete (all testing and integration done) in the summer of 2024.
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Being the first western company on the ground following the Fukushima disaster, where we deployed our Patented Ion Exchange system and processed more than100 million gallons of contaminated sea water and removed 10 million curies of Cesium. In addition, we continue to deploy personnel, technologies and robotic systems in support of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
VNSFS’ additional environmental remediation capabilities related to D&D include:
- Soil and groundwater remediation
- Lead contamination, heavy metals, and radioactive materials cleanup, including excavation, dredging, treatment, and disposal
- Asbestos characterization and abatement
- RCRA/CERCLA
- Natural resource, NEPA, Part B Permit, and associated regulatory documents.
- Regulatory Document and Environmental Management Support.
VNSFS currently provides a Technical Team to develop Regulatory Decision making Documents (RCRA and CERCLA), including feasibility studies and remedial design documents, at PORTS. As a direct result of our work performance, the prime contractor on this D&D project has received “exceptional” ratings for regulatory compliance and has met all major document milestones on schedule.
