CHPRC’s Fulton to Retire Sept. 30

John Fulton, the president of CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. at Hanford, told workers Wednesday morning that he plans to retire Sept. 30. A new leader for the central plateau and groundwater contractor should be named by next week, he said. Fulton, a native of the Tri-Cities area, has worked at Hanford off and on since 1979 and has led CH2M Hill at Hanford since 2012. “There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” he said in a message to employees. “As we enter year two of our contract’s second five years, our team is poised to successfully complete its mission.”

Under Fulton’s leadership CH2M Hill is treating record amounts of contaminated groundwater at new pump and treat facilities added in recent years. In another 15 years most of Hanford groundwater should be restored to drinking-water standards, Fulton said. Substantial progress has been made on the work to prepare Hanford’s Plutonium Finishing Plant for demolition. Just 28 of 238 glove boxes remain and 136 of 196 pencil tanks have been removed. CH2M Hill also started a program to improve leadership skills and earned the Voluntary Protection Program Star in the years Fulton has led the contractor.