In Richland, Washington, VNSFS operates, manages and maintains the analytical services functions of the DOE’s Hanford 222-S Laboratory, a HazCat III nuclear facility that is a critical element of one of the nation’s largest nuclear cleanup efforts. Lab experts receive, handle and store up to 10,000 tank waste samples annually, and perform more than 32,000 analyses on these samples, reporting their results to DOE. Through its work, the lab supports the primary missions at Hanford: infrastructure, remediation, tank operations and processing.
At the DOE cleanup site in Paducah, Kentucky, our employees support various projects across the plant, including Nuclear Criticality Safety, Non-Destructive Assay and environmental compliance.
VNSFS’ laboratory and sampling services capabilities include:
- Analytical and testing services – organic, inorganic, radiochemical and classical chemistry
- Laboratory standards and reagents
- Analytical method development
- Sample archiving, reconstitution, tracking and documentation
- Workload and customer interface management
- Compliance with regulatory requirements
- Safe disposal of dangerous RCRA F wastes (solid and liquid)
- Maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
Analytical lab support provided includes, but is not limited to: receiving, handling, analyzing and storing samples; performing special tests; and reporting results.
Our environmental management program includes an ISO 14001- conforming Environmental Management System and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including for permitting; environmental reporting; agreements negotiated by DOE with state and local authorities; and federal initiatives for pollution prevention, waste minimization and sustainability.
VNSFS maintains its labs in a clean and well-organized condition to promote a safe environment for workers, prevent leaks and spills, minimize fire risk, and maintain access to emergency equipment. We follow the guidelines of our DOE-approved Quality Assurance Program, and their safety and health program.
At the 222-S Lab in Hanford, VNSFS is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association to ISO 17025 as part of our Industrial Hygiene testing. We are also accredited with the state of Washington Department of Ecology for Tank Waste and related testing.
