August 2013

Review of the Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Construction Quality

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Enforcement and Oversight (Independent Oversight) within the Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) conducted an independent review of selected aspects of construction quality at the Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). The review, which was performed June 10-14, 2013, was the latest in a series of ongoing quarterly assessments of construction quality performed by Independent Oversight at the WTP construction site.

The scope of this quarterly assessment of construction quality review included observations of ongoing work activities, the Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) corrective action program, examination of implementation of selected requirements in the BNI quality assurance (QA) program, and follow up on issues identified during previous assessments. Design and procurement programs are not included within the scope of the quarterly construction quality reviews. Ongoing work activities have been affected by reductions in construction craft staffing and design and process concerns which may result in redesign of some systems and/or structures. Work activities observed during the current review included observation of DOE Office of River Protection (ORP) welding inspections and one hydrostatic and three pneumatic pressure tests. Independent Oversight examined nonconformance reports (NCRs) and construction deficiency reports (CDRs) identified by BNI under its corrective action program, as well as corrective actions to address deficiencies identified in installation of post installed concrete anchors (PICAs). Independent Oversight also reviewed the BNI self-assessment program in the construction organization, QA surveillance reports, and the results of quality control (QC) tests performed on samples of concrete placed in the High-Level Waste (HLW) facility.