The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a $10 billion, 10-year contract to a consortium of well-known, established companies with extensive Hanford Site experience. The consortium, known as the Central Plateau Cleanup Company, is owned by a team lead by Amentum, formerly AECOM, and includes Fluor Federal Services and Atkins Nuclear Secured. The contract award was delayed due to a legal challenge, which was resolved in DOE’s favor.

The contract covers much of the remaining environmental cleanup work at the site with the exception of the 56 million gallons of radioactive waste in underground tanks and the Hanford Waste Treatment plant. The work involves decontaminating and demolishing buildings, digging up radioactive and other contaminated waste and soil, treatment of contaminated groundwater, and operating a large lined landfill for radioactive waste in the center of the site.

Scott Sax will serve as president and project manager of the Central Plateau Cleanup Company. He was president of Washington Closure Hanford when it successfully completed most of the cleanup of Hanford along the Columbia River.