The Department of Energy has decided to not extend Dale Knutson’s two-year agreement to serve as federal project director for the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, and as a result, Knutson will be leaving the WTP to return to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at the end of May. Knutson’s planned departure from the Hanford vit plant was outlined in a message Scott Samuelson, manager of the DOE Office of River Protection, sent to employees yesterday. Describing Knutson’s tenure at the WTP as “transformational,” Samuelson said, “The most senior levels of the Department and I want to express our deepest thanks to him for his exemplary work and raising awareness of the important actions and requirements necessary to bring this project to safe completion. Dale accepted the position of WTP Federal Project Director in June of 2010 as a 2-year assignment on loan from PNNL. At that time, the project was focused on design and construction. Much has been accomplished since he began the job and much has changed.”
According to ORP spokeswoman Carrie Meyer, Knutson departure from the WTP was reached through “mutual agreement” between him and DOE leadership. “Significant progress has been made on the WTP over the past two years under Dale’s leadership, however, efforts are now beginning to rebaseline the project. By mutual agreement, it was determined the end of Dale’s assignment (IPA) (on May 31) is a natural transition point,” Meyer said in a written response. A replacement for Knutson has not yet been named. “The WTP project is a high priority for the Department. The Department is going through a deliberative process to identify the potential candidates for this position. We will keep you informed as we make final decisions,” Samuelson told employees.
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