Hanford Contractor Aids Community College Nuclear Tech Program

Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford Site tank farm contractor, has helped Columbia Basin College (CBC) in nearby Pasco, Wash., purchase a state-of-the-art Q-Track simulator for its Nuclear Technology program laboratory. CBC is one of only two National Uniform Curriculum programs providing this equipment to train students in limiting their exposure to radiation. The simulator allows the community college’s entire nuclear technology lab to become a radiological training area with simulated radiation conditions.  The college offers atwo-year associate of applied science degree for non-licensed nuclear operators, radiation protection technicians, and instrument and control technicians. WRPS has supported the program since 2009 to train workers for the nuclear industry. It donated $32,000 for the Q-Track simulator and the remainder of the $80,000 cost came from the CBC Nuclear Technology fund.