A U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management cleanup crew member recently experienced a surprise while on the jobsite at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
Office of Environmental Management
September 24, 2024
minute read time
Seven kittens were discovered inside a mud mixer that was brought to the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility expansion project at the Idaho Natonal Laboratory Site.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup crew member recently experienced a surprise while on the jobsite at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site.
An employee with subcontractor Western Construction was checking the perimeter of the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility (ICDF) cell expansion project when he heard meowing and informed his supervisor, Rick Johns. CERCLA stands for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
Upon further inspection, they found a litter of seven kittens inside a well drilling truck that had been brought to the construction site two days earlier.
The kittens were without their mother, and appeared to be seven to 10 days old, as their eyes were not fully opened.
Idaho Environmental Coalition manager Eric King added one of seven kittens found at the Idaho National Laboratory Site to his family, which includes two dogs. The family’s new addition, Chupi, is pictured here with Max.
The Western Construction employees informed Eric King, an ICDF construction manager for EM contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC), who in turn consulted IEC’s Environmental Management Program. Program employees told King that the kittens could either be taken to a local animal shelter or a home.
In the interim, with the approval of the EM program, Western Construction employees gave the kittens milk, as they hadn’t been fed for at least two days.
Johns, with the support of his wife, Cheri, and daughter, Liera, decided to take the kittens home. His family members took turns feeding the kittens every four hours, even at 2 a.m.
Inside a construction trailer, a worker feeds milk to one of seven kittens found at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
Idaho Environmental Coalition manager Eric King welcomed a kitten named Chupi to his family after Chupi and six other young cats were found at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. Chupi is pictured here with Max and Millie of the King family.
By late August, just 40 days after being found at the INL Site, all the kittens had been adopted.
“Seeing those helpless little guys, I couldn’t help but feel compassion,” said King. “One is now part of our family.”
According to King, his new male kitten, Chupi — short for Chupacabra — gets along great with the couple’s two dogs, Max and Millie.
-Contributor: Erik Simpson
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