Incoming Hanford tank waste contractor lines up workforce

The BWX Technologies-led contractor soon to be in charge of the 56 million gallons of liquid tank waste at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site has already lined up most of its rank-and-file workforce.

Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) had already secured commitments from 92% of the workforce at Amentum-led Washington River Protection Solutions as of Jan. 21, H2C said recently on its website. Shortly before Christmas, the incoming integrated tank waste contractor announced it would soon start making offers to the existing workers.

“We are also very pleased to report that about 92% of the WRPS workforce has already accepted their offers of employment, with more coming in every day,” H2C said in an online notice. The announcement also said workers will not see a change in their benefits.

H2C, made up of Amentum and Fluor is scheduled to take over tank waste responsibility later this month. After a protracted legal battle, H2C got the green light to start transition in October. The joint venture has a long-term contract potentially worth $45 billion.

The liquid radioactive and chemical waste stored in Hanford’s underground waste is left over from decades of plutonium production at the site. Eventually, H2C will also take over operation of the Bechtel-built Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. DOE is supposed to start turning some of the less radioactive waste into solid form in August.