DOE Manager to Retire
WC Monitor
5/9/2014
Matt McCormick, Manager of the Department of Energy’s Richland Operations Office, announced this week that he is retiring from federal service in mid-June. McCormick has been at the post since July 2010, and prior to that he was assistant manager for the Central Plateau at the Richland Operations Office for seven years. During his tenure he developed the “2015 Vision” to help guide the cleanup of Hanford, oversaw $1.6 billion in Recovery Act Work and saw the demolition of several support buildings at the Plutonium Finishing Plant. After McCormick’s departure, Deputy Site Manager Doug Shoop will act as site lead until a new manager is named.
McCormick is leaving DOE after 20 years in nuclear weapons and cleanup programs. “The first order of business is to spend additional time with my family, and eventually, to put my skills and experience to work in the private sector,” McCormick said in a message to employees. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with a dedicated federal and contractor workforce, the community, tribes and stakeholders in cleaning up Hanford lands, preserving the rich history and protecting site resources. I know many challenges lie ahead, and I look forward to watching your progress.”
DOE cleanup chief Dave Huizenga praised McCormick’s work. “Matt’s leadership at RL over the last decade has resulted in tremendous achievements for the cleanup at Hanford,” he said in a message to DOE employees. He added: “Please join me in thanking Matt for his service to the nation and congratulating him on a remarkable federal career. I am confident Matt will be equally successful in whatever challenges he chooses to tackle next.”
Rep. Hastings: McCormick ‘Tireless Advocate for Hanford’
Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), whose district includes Hanford, also congratulated McCormick for his work. “Matt has not only successfully carried out the cleanup mission at Richland, he has also served as a tireless advocate for Hanford,” Hastings said. “Congress and our community have always been able to count on Matt to push for what’s in the best interests of the critical cleanup work under the purview of the Richland Operations Office and to work with the community on how cleaned-up land can play a role in the future. Matt has never lost sight of the mission of the Richland office or of the legal cleanup milestones that must be met there. I’m hopeful that Matt’s successor will share his focus, leadership and dedication.”
Safety Incident Stops PFP Work
WC Monitor
5/9/2014
Work to cut contaminated piping or equipment into smaller pieces at Hanford’s Plutonium Finishing Plant has stopped after an incident April 17. Workers were cutting a 1-inch diameter pipe into smaller pieces so it would fit inside a waste container when they heard a loud noise, according to Dee Millikin, spokeswoman for CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. They also briefly saw a small, orange-red flame at the end of the pipe, she said. The work was being done inside a sealed glove bag and workers were wearing required protective equipment, she said. The bag was not burned and employees saw no sign of damage or pressurization of the bag, she said. Surveys after the incident did not detect any spread of contamination.
Employees responded appropriately, and work on that project and any similar work has been stopped while an investigation is conducted, Millikin said. The investigation will include a thorough examination of the pipe and a determination of what was inside it so steps can be taken to prevent a similar incident. The piping came from a scrubber cell used to scrub materials rather than a glove box on the main production line at PFP, which was used to turn plutonium into metal buttons. Glove boxes and other equipment are being cleaned out of PFP to allow its demolition. Work is slightly behind schedule at the plant, said John Ciucci, chief operating officer for CH2M Hill, at a House Cleanup Caucus last week.
