Secretary of Energy Steven Chu met last week with Bechtel Corp. Chairman and CEO Riley Bechtel to discuss, in part, Bechtel’s work on one of DOE’s largest projects—the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant. Exact details of what was discussed at the meeting, though, remain unclear. “Secretary Chu and Riley Bechtel have met regularly over the last few years as part of efforts to promote communications at senior levels with our site contractors. During the recent meeting, the Secretary and Mr. Bechtel discussed a wide range of issues, including WTP,” DOE spokeswoman Jen Stutsman said in a written response yesterday.
The recent meeting came as Bechtel has faced increased scrutiny for its work at the WTP. In recent weeks, a senior DOE official at the Office of River Protection has prepared a memorandum outlining a number of criticisms with Bechtel’s technical advice for the project; and Chu and a team of high-level experts have begun a new review looking at the technical challenges related to the so-called “black cells” of the WTP—areas of the plant where vessels and other components are located that will be too radioactive for workers to enter for maintenance work or other purpose once the WTP goes into operation. Last week’s meeting, “reflects Riley’s and Bechtel’s commitment to the customer,” Bechtel spokesman Jason Bohne said in a separate response yesterday.
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