Pasco, Washington – TerraGraphics, Inc. participated in a STEM Like Me Program event. Professionals from TerraGraphics engaged with small groups of local middle school students, advising each group about the mentor’s focus, their education, and their current job role. The men-tors created hands-on activities to capture the groups interest; with the intention to bridge a learning experience for each student to the mentors’ career. Collectively, the TerraGraphics mentors stated, “This is a fun opportunity. It was exciting to see students really engage with the careers they found interesting.”

TerraGraphics professional , Heath Low, was awarded a plaque for his leadership and dedication to building a bridge that continues to link students, educators, and the community to STEM resources through the Mid- Columbia STEM Network. TerraGraphics looks to continue their participation with STEM Like Me, and provide continuous effort to give back to the community.

-Heath Low, QA Engineer

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) contracted TerraGraphics to develop a Hanford Site access and sampling program. The program will establish the requirements for CTUIR employees to complete requisite training and evaluation to safely access and perform sampling specific duties on the Hanford Site in areas authorized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As the DOE completes active remediation on portions of the Hanford Site, agreements are made that allow the CTUIR to assess lands historically utilized by the tribes. To establish a complete program for site access and sampling deployable by September 2018, TerraGraphics is leading DOE and one of their prime contractors in the generation and approval of protocols for sampling, safety, training, waste management, shipment, data management, and reporting. TerraGraphics was selected for this scope because of the long working relationships between its employees and functional organizations of the Hanford Site. Knowing how to get work done on the Hanford Site is a product of the depth of experience held by our employees, which is critical in implementing a process that will allow the CTUIR to get their desired work done under the requirements imposed by the DOE.

-Randy Hermann, Business Unit Manager – Environmental Services

TerraGraphics is excited to announce the implementation of the TG College Scholarship Program. In an effort to exceed the intent of the Small Business Association (SBA) HUBZone program, TG is committed to providing educational opportunities within our community. As such, the TG Scholarship Program is designed to encourage and emphasize college education and community involvement. Supporting students in their education is important to TerraGraphics and we’re committed to helping educate, inspire, and develop tomorrow’s leaders. The Scholarship Program will recognize and reward students for attending college and contributing time to their communities. The Program is open to applicants residing in a HUBZone designated areas and must be enrolled in an accredited public or private college, university, or trade school to be selected and to remain in the Program. For more information on this exciting program contact beth.mata@terragraphics.com.

-Beth Mata, Director – Business Development

WRPS was honored to win the Department of Energy’s Mentor of the Year award for FY16. WRPS was recognized at an award ceremony at the 2017 DOE Small Business Forum & Expo in Kansas City, MO.

WRPS’ Mentor Protégé is TerraGraphics located in a HUBZone in Pasco, WA. TerraGraphics incorporates a synergistic approach and long-term vision into environmental and engineering projects. Solving today’s environmental problems requires the coordination of a variety of disciplines and expertise. Founded in 1984, TerraGraphics has been making a difference for nearly 33 years. Our approach to problem-solving and our commitment to client service guide the success of every project.

https://www.hanford.gov/tocpmm/page.cfm/Mentor-ProtegeTerraGraphics

Initial testing of a technology to eliminate chemical vapors is showing promise, destroying 95 percent of the vapors fed into the system in a recent test.

WRPS is supporting NUCON International as it develops a thermal-oxidation demonstration project based on an internal combustion engine. The unit works by pulling tank vapors into the engine’s induction system and combusts them in the engine cylinders, destroying the vapors in the process.

Proof-of-concept testing was conducted in May. The goal of the test was to determine if the NUCON unit could destroy or remove chemicals of potential concern, or COPCs, in the tank farms with 93 percent destruction efficiency. The NUCON unit performed above that threshold, destroying 95 percent of the vapors fed into the system.

Testing was performed at NUCON’s facility in Columbus, Ohio. It focused on destroying furans and hexane, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, ammonia and mercury. Representatives from WRPS, DOE-ORP and TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Inc. witnessed the testing.

While it was demonstrated that the system works at a high level, it did not demonstrate the system functions adequately with the low concentrations of compounds such as furans and nitrosamines that are present in the Hanford waste tanks. Additional testing will be performed to help resolve this issue.

The NUCON units will be shipped to an off-site facility in Richland for bench-scale testing. If successful, those tests will be followed by a pilot-scale test in fiscal year 2018 and a full-scale demonstration in the years that follow.

The NUCON thermal-oxidation unit is one of a number of technologies being explored to improve worker safety. The WRPS Chief Technology Office began evaluating technologies in fiscal year 2016.

Opportunities for Employee Engagement
• The next CVST Communications Sub-Team meeting is Monday, Aug. 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Conference Room 110 at 2425 Stevens Center.
• The next full CVST meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 2704-HV, Room G-206.

https://hanfordvapors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Vapors-Weekly-Update-8-2-17-1.pdf

http://www.djc.com/news/co/12100646.html

Washington River Protection Solutions won the U.S. Department of Energy Mentor of the Year award. The company is a Hanford Site tank farm contractor for DOE’s Office of River Protection. Through the DOE mentor-protege program, WRPS coached HUBZone business TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering in Pasco. WRPS also won the award in 2011.

September 1, 2016- TerraGraphics is now a certified Technical Service Provider for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho and Washington. With this certification, TerraGraphics can provide services to landowners in those states for projects being funded by NRCS.