Perma-Fix Purchases Environmental Waste Operations Center
It's official! We've purchased the Environmental Waste Operations Center (EWOC) – a
facility we have been leasing for several years. This purchase is a major step forward for
Perma-Fix, as we plan to upgrade the facility and make the most of regional opportunities, including
large-scale decontamination projects, waste processing, trans-loading from truck to rail, and the
future implementation of PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) waste processing capabilities.
The EWOC facility is impressive, with over 29,000 square feet of licensed storage and processing
space for radioactive materials spread across 8 acres. This facility is located in a prime spot in
the northwest part of the Heritage Center, right near Oak Ridge, TN. and it has its own rail spur,
making it perfect for cost-effective transport and receiving large waste components. Plus, it's got
direct access to the DOE's Oak Ridge Reservation, which is great for ongoing cleanup projects.
Buying the EWOC facility is a key move in our growth strategy and allows us to offer our clients
more value and a broader range of waste management solutions.
Perma-Fix Advances PFAS Destruction Technology with New Perma-FAS System
We are making rapid progress on our groundbreaking PFAS destroying technology, Perma-FAS and have
partnered with ProcessBarron to fabricate
and assemble our first 1,000-gallon commercial unit, which is set to deploy later this year at
our Perma-Fix of Florida waste treatment
facility.
Our collaboration with ProcessBarron, a company
renowned for their expertise in custom-engineered industrial solutions, is pivotal. Their
efficiency and experience align perfectly with our timelines and stringent safety standards.
Since introducing our innovative system,
demand has surged, and ProcessBarron's involvement will optimize performance and accelerate
deployment across our four waste treatment
facilities over the next few years.
Recent EPA regulatory measures have heightened urgency among waste generators, and we're eager to
support both their short-term and
long-term goals in eliminating these hazardous chemicals. Unlike traditional PFAS disposal
methods such as deep well injection and
land-filling, which pose environmental risks, our sealed chemical destruction unit operates
under precise temperature conditions to
break down PFAS compounds into non-hazardous byproducts, achieving a 99.9999% destruction level.
Our proprietary hydrolytic destruction process, tailored specifically for PFAS compounds, ensures
effective mineralization, with
recovered byproducts suitable for reuse or resale. This approach not only addresses immediate
waste challenges but also promotes sustainable
environmental management practices. With patent applications already underway, we're committed
to securing long-term protection for this
groundbreaking intellectual property, including innovations for treating soils and filter media.
We are currently accepting high concentration PFAS liquids (AFFF). We also invite commercial and
government entities to contact us if
interested in learning more about our new PFAS destruction process. For treatment and/or more
information, email us at sales@perma-fix.com.
The 16th Annual Perma-Fix/Roy G. Post Foundation Golf Tournament Raises Over
$24K for Charity
We're excited to announce the results of the 16th Annual Perma-Fix/Roy G. Post Foundation Golf
Tournament. This year, the event generated
a total of $24,644.63 in proceeds, to be evenly divided between two worthy causes: St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital and
the Roy G. Post Foundation.
Hosted in March at the picturesque Ocotillo Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, just ahead of the
Waste Management Symposia, this tournament
was the largest Perma-Fix and the Roy G. Post Foundation have ever hosted. We were honored to
welcome 169 golfers, with the generous
support of 34 event sponsors.
St. Jude has long been a beneficiary of Perma-Fix's philanthropic efforts. Since its
establishment in 1962, St. Jude has been a beacon of
hope in the fight against childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, offering free
treatment to families in need. Thanks to
the generous contributions of our players and sponsors, we are pleased to donate $12,322.31 to
support their critical work.
Since combining forces with WMS/Roy G. Post Foundation in 2019 to make this tournament bigger and
better, we have been proud to support
the Roy G. Post Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Dr. Roy G. Post's legacy in
nuclear engineering and nurturing the next
generation of professionals in this field. With equal gratitude, we present them with a matching
contribution of $12,322.31.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this event such a huge success.
Together, we're making a real difference
in the lives of children battling illness and in supporting the future of nuclear engineering.
Cheers to making a positive impact!
Perma-Fix Takes on PFAS and Supports EPA's Tough Stance
Perma-Fix supports the EPA for getting tough on PFAS chemicals. They've set new rules that label
PFAS as hazardous, making polluters pay up for
cleanup and adding more PFAS to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory.
Plus, they're cracking down on those responsible
for releasing PFAS into the environment and are also allocating substantial funds to address
PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water,
along with supporting general water quality improvements, including PFAS treatment.
In line with these new measures, Perma-Fix has been working on a game-changing technology to
eradicate PFAS. This technology has been tested and proven
to destroy at least 99.9999% of PFAS in various materials like liquids, solids, and soils. Not
only does it zap these pollutants, but it also eliminates the environmental risks tied to their
disposal.
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, the brain behind this revolutionary technology, Perma-FAS, calls out the
old ways of dumping PFAS in landfills or injecting
them deep into the ground, saying they're risky and don't align with EPA goals. Instead,
Perma-FAS offers a safer, greener solution.
This innovation is set to hit the market later this year, offering a cheaper option than burning
PFAS. And unlike incineration, it won't pump out
harmful emissions, keeping our air cleaner.
CEO Mark Duff is all in, saying Perma-Fix is on board with the EPA's mission and that we are
committed to protecting water and tackling PFAS head
one with innovative solutions like Perma-FAS.
Perma-Fix is eager to team up with regulators, industry partners, and communities to roll out
Perma-FAS and fight PFAS pollution together.
Commercial and government entities interested in speaking to a Perma-Fix representative about
Perma-FAS contact us at sales@perma-fix.com.
Enviro-Fix, a joint venture between ECC and Perma-Fix, will begin the
much-anticipated cleanup operations at a former TNT facility and radioactive waste storage location this
May.
In 1941, the Niagara Falls Storage Site saw a bustling period of approximately 9 months,
dedicated to the manufacturing of TNT. After being decommissioned
in 1943 the site became a repository for radioactive waste and residues generated during the
production of the atomic bomb. Over the years, alarming
levels of radiation emanated from the site, contaminating the soil, surface water, and drainage
ditches. Tragically, individuals residing near the site
fell victim to deadly cancers and other ailments believed to be linked to the exposure of these
hazardous materials.
Recognizing the dire impact on human health, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took action in
2018, initiating plans for the removal of all radioactive and
contaminated materials from the site. This project will take place in three distinct phases,
with the first phase beginning this May with Enviro-Fix
leading the efforts.
During this initial phase, Enviro-Fix, a collaborative venture between environmental service
giants Perma-Fix and ECC, will be completely removing
the "lower activity waste". This encompasses dismantling buildings, excavating foundations, and
extracting contaminated soils and polluted groundwater
around the 191-acre site. Approximately 6,000 cubic yards of soil and 4,000 gallons of polluted
groundwater are expected to be removed, transported,
and disposed of safely at a licensed and approved waste disposal facility.
This initial phase marks a crucial step towards mitigating the longstanding hazards posed by the
Niagara Falls Storage Site. Enviro-Fix is excited
to be paving the way in these remediation efforts and is honored to restore health and safety to
the affected communities.
Perma-Fix Successfully Completes Pilot Plant Testing and Unveils New Process
for Destruction of PFAS "Forever Chemicals"
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the "Company") today announced it has successfully
completed pilot plant testing on its new, patent-pending process for
the destruction of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever
chemicals."" PFAS compounds do not degrade over time through any
natural process or environmental conditions, bio-accumulate, and are harmful to humans and the
environment. The tests were designed to demonstrate the
destruction of commercial quantities of PFAS-contaminated liquids and better define the
parameters needed to construct the first commercial unit.
The Company's prior bench-scale testing of PFAS compounds demonstrated that the process is
effective and can be applied to a variety of potential markets,
including liquids, solids, soils, biosolids, and sludges. The new pilot plant operates in a
closed system under mild conditions.
Present disposal options for PFAS liquids include deep wells, incineration and landfills, all of
which have serious environmental liability issues.
We expect that the Perma-Fix's process will virtually eliminate PFAS compounds (minimum of
99.9999% destruction) and reduces the environmental
liability associated with these materials. Additionally, the process is designed to operate at a
highly competitive price compared to traditional
disposal options.
According to a recent article in Barron's the estimated cleanup cost for PFAS compounds could
exceed $200 billion. A recent study from the U.S. Geological
Survey found that "forever chemicals" were present in about 45% of U.S. tap water. Scientific
studies have linked PFAS exposure to reproductive effects
such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women; developmental
effects or delays in children, including low birth weight,
accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes; increased risk of prostate, kidney,
and testicular cancers; reduced ability of the body's
immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response; interference with the
body's natural hormones; and increased cholesterol levels
and/or risk of obesity. Last year, manufacturer 3M agreed to a $10.3 billion settlement over
water pollution claims involving their use of PFAS.
Mark Duff, President and CEO of the Company, commented, "I am pleased to announce that the pilot
plant testing of our breakthrough process for treating
PFAS compounds was not only successful, but exceeded our expectations. In fact, our process
achieved PFAS destruction levels exceeding anticipated
regulatory requirements. These tests reaffirmed our prior bench scale testing which indicated
our process should effectively destroy these harmful
chemicals at high levels of efficiency."
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, founder of the Company and Executive Vice President of Strategic
Initiatives, as well as inventor of the technology, noted,
"This successful demonstration marks potentially the single largest achievement in the history
of the Company, and is the culmination of years of R&D.
We initially focused our tests on contaminated liquids, which are stored in abundance around the
country and worldwide. There are limited current
treatment options for these materials and we expect that our process will exceed any of these
methods. Some of the sizable markets for PFAS include AFFF
firefighting foams, both expired concentrate and flushing liquids, contaminated liquids from
PFAS systems, and other water-based separation products
from a variety of industrial systems."
Centofanti continued, "While there are inherent risks and potential delays with any new
technology, especially as we continue to scale the process,
with the pilot plant test now complete we have confidence moving forward. We are now in the
process of constructing our initial commercial unit, which
will be comprised of a sealed vessel operating under mild conditions. We believe that this
process is highly scalable with minimal CapEx or labor costs
required since we are employing a non-incineration, chemical-based process. Our proprietary
process is expected to destroy the fluorocarbon chain,
mineralizes the fluoride, and creates calcium fluoride as the primary byproduct, which is a
completely non-hazardous material far exceeding even the
strictest disposal requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other
byproducts include simple non-hazardous organic materials that
can also be easily and safely disposed of."
Centofanti further noted: "PFAS chemicals have been designated as "forever chemicals," but we
know from basic chemistry they are fundamentally unstable.
This is because of an activation barrier that exists with carbon-fluorine materials. After
several years of research, Perma-Fix has developed a process
that has bypassed that barrier and readily destroys PFAS materials under mild conditions. This
process has been screened against a large variety of
PFAS materials in bench tests, and we were able to destroy all materials screened. The process
is fundamentally new, and patents have been filed,
including 3 patents pending, a fourth patent in process, and several more underway to cover the
various potential applications that we see in the
various PFAS markets."
Duff concluded: "We are now in the process of final design and fabrication for installation of
the first operational unit and plan to be operational,
accepting commercial waste for destruction by the end of the year. Perma-Fix has established
goals for additional units to be installed at each existing
treatment plant to follow in 2025. The initial feedback from potential customers has been
positive given the increasing pressure to treat and
dispose of these waste streams. In addition to the costs associated with storing these
materials, there are significant growing legal and regulatory
requirements to treat these wastes, not to mention the potential liabilities associated with
these harmful and dangerous waste streams that have
permeated landfills. Initial estimates associated with impact to soils include more than 200
million acres of contaminated farmland in the U.S.
alone. We intend to tackle this global environmental catastrophe and look forward to providing
further updates on our progress."
Commercial and government entities interested in speaking to a Perma-Fix representative about the
new PFAS destruction process may contact
the Company at (770) 587-9898.
Perma-Fix Joint Venture Awarded $13.4 Million, 3-Year USACE Contract for
Environmental Remediation at the Harshaw Chemical Company Site
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. has announced that its joint venture, Enviro-Fix
Solutions, LLC, in which it owns a 45% ownership stake, has been awarded a $13.4 million, 3-year
contract by the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for environmental
remediation at the Former Harshaw Chemical Company Site in Cleveland, Ohio. Enviro-Fix is a
joint venture between ECC of Burlingame, CA and Perma-Fix to provide remediation and waste
management services for the USACE clean-up mission.
This extensive, three-year project involves the comprehensive removal of contaminated soil and
debris from Operable Units 1 and 2 at the site. Scheduled to commence in summer/fall 2024, the
remedial action will encompass various critical activities, including sampling and laboratory
analyses, water and wastewater management, industrial hygiene and health monitoring, and
contamination control measures. The project also involves excavation, transportation, and
off-site disposal of contaminated materials. Following the completion of these steps,
confirmation sampling and final status surveys will be conducted to ensure the thorough
remediation of the area. The project concludes with the restoration of the excavated areas. For
further information on this award, visit: https://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3623058/remediation-contract-for-former-harshaw-chemical-company-awarded.
"This is the second award we have received this year with our teaming partner, ECC, and
represents a critical part of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP),"
stated Perma-Fix CEO Mark Duff. "We define ourselves by our commitment to solving our clients'
most complex challenges, and look forward to providing USACE Buffalo District with our remedial
action solution in the safest, most effective manner possible."
Perma-Fix, Arrowhead Contracting, and Envirocon Give Back to the Cove
Community
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, along with Arrowhead Contracting, Inc. and Envirocon, was proud
to present a donation of
$17,500 to the Navajo Nation Cove Chapter. This donation helps to purchase and stock firewood
for the elders of the community
and support programs for veterans.
Arrowhead Contracting, Inc. (prime contractor), Envirocon, and Perma-Fix (both subcontractors)
are partners on the Abandoned
Uranium Mines and Cove Transfer Station Time Critical Removal Action Projects for the EPA,
cleaning up legacy uranium waste in
Cove, Arizona. The Navajo Nation Cove Chapter represents the community where these projects take
place. The Chapter's vision is
for Cove to "be recognized as a safe and desirable community that preserves its uniqueness and
special qualities consistent with
our Navajo way of life." Perma-fix is excited to have the opportunity to further this vision and
give back to this wonderful community.
Perma-Fix Northwest Approved for STAR Level Participation in the Voluntary
Protection Program
Perma-Fix's Richland WA fixed based facility (Perma-Fix Northwest) has been approved for STAR
level participation in the
Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) after a rigorous onsite evaluation by health and safety
professionals. VPP in Washington
state is based on a national program of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA).
Companies and agencies that achieve this status have a strong safety program that centers around
preventing workplace injuries and
illnesses by having a strong employee safety culture, management commitment to safety, hazard
prevention and control, worksite
analysis, and training. STAR level participants also maintain injury and illness rates that are
below national averages in their
respective industries. Based on the report from the Department of Labor and Industries,
Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) has proved to
have a commendable health and safety program with demonstrated effectiveness.
This achievement has made PFNW a leader in workplace health and safety and has established the
site as a role model for other companies.
This accomplishment is due to Gary Daniels' (PFNW's Health and Safety Manager) unwavering
commitment to the safety of his workforce
and the staff at PFNW for making health and safety the foundation of everything they do.
Perma-Fix Joint Venture Awarded $40 Million, 5-Year USACE Contract for
Environmental Remediation at the Niagara Falls Storage Site
ATLANTA, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PESI)
(the "Company")
today announced its joint venture, Enviro-Fix Solutions, LLC, in which it owns a 45% ownership
stake, has been
awarded a $40 million, 5-year contract by the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) for
environmental remediation at the Niagara Falls Storage Site (NFSS). Enviro-Fix is a joint
venture between ECC
of Burlingame, CA and Perma-Fix to provide remediation and waste management services for the
USACE clean-up mission.
NFSS occupies approximately 1,500 acres of the original 7,500 acre Lake Ontario Ordnance Works
(LOOW), a former trinitrotoluene
manufacturing facility built during the 1940s. In 1944, the LOOW was reassigned to the Manhattan
Engineer District and began to
be used as a storage location for radioactive residues and other radioactive material that
resulted from the development of the
atomic bomb. NFSS is a designated Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) site.
FUSRAP was established to
identify, investigate, and cleanup or control sites that were contaminated above DOE guidelines.
Cleanup activities are managed
by USACE under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management.
Mark Duff, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are honored that our joint venture has been
awarded this important contract by USACE
to support the DOE Office of Legacy Management's mission to support post-closure
responsibilities of the FUSRAP sites, as well as
ensure the future protection of human health and the environment. This selection highlights our
technical capabilities and prior
success in remediating such sites and safely disposing of hazardous materials."
About Perma-Fix Environmental Services
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a nuclear services company and leading provider of
nuclear and mixed waste management services.
The Company's nuclear waste services include management and treatment of radioactive and mixed
waste for hospitals, research labs and
institutions, federal agencies, including the DOE, the U.S Department of Defense ("DOD"), and
the commercial nuclear industry. The Company's
nuclear services group provides project management, waste management, environmental restoration,
decontamination and decommissioning, new
build construction, and radiological protection, safety and industrial hygiene capability to our
clients. The Company operates four
nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD, and commercial
facilities, nationwide.
UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 598 to Partner with Perma-Fix Environmental
Services for
Hanford Tank Waste Grouting, an organized, safe, and reliable option for Hanford Tank Waste Disposal
Pasco, WA: UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 598 today announced an upcoming Project Labor
Agreement
(PLA) signing event with Perma-Fix Environmental Services, on July 14, 2023, at 10:00 am Pacific
Time,
located at Local 598's Union Hall, 1328 RD 28, Pasco WA 99301. This partnership will supply the
Perma-Fix
Northwest Facility (PFNW) with the organized labor force needed to take on the challenges of
supporting
a completed Vitrification Plant and enhancing treatment of Hanford's Low Activity Tank Waste in
concrete-like grout, which will support the glassifying process of the Hanford Vitrification
Plant for safe transport
and disposal off-site.
The U.S. Department of Energy has been exploring options to add more waste treatment capacity for
the
56 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste currently stored in underground
tanks on
the Hanford Reservation. "Local 598 has always insisted that the men and women performing waste
treatment and disposal work must have access to the best safety and health representation
possible,"
stated Nickolas Bumpaous, Business Manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 598. "Assuming the
Department of Energy continues to consider the process of grout for Hanford's least radioactive
tank waste,
we want to ensure they have access to the highest skilled and safest labor force in the
industry. Our
Partnership with Perma-Fix will ensure that the U.S. DOE has a local contractor with the
know-how, skills
and safety culture required to achieve Hanford's cleanup mission".
"We are honored to partner and receive the strong support of Local 598 on this important
project," noted
Mark Duff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Perma-Fix Environmental Services. "We share
a
combined commitment to the highest levels of safety and environmental stewardship in supporting
Department of Energy's Hanford tank remediation mission. We believe this relationship with Local
598
increases the value of our offering to DOE while providing a treatment option that can
accelerate the
reduction of environmental liability in the region."
About United Association of Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 598: Established on December 29th
,
1944, during the height of the Manhattan Project with the primary goal of supporting the
construction of
plutonium production reactors and associated processing facilities sited at the Hanford
reservation. Our
Signatory Contractors and the members of Local Union 598 form a team that serves twenty-one
counties
in Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon and continues to lead the industry with the
highest level
of training, professionalism and workplace safety on projects ranging from schools to nuclear
facilities.
About Perma-Fix Environmental Services:
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a nuclear services company and leading provider of
nuclear and
mixed waste management services. The Company's nuclear waste services include management and
treatment of radioactive and mixed waste for hospitals, research labs and institutions, federal
agencies,
including the U.S Department of Energy ("DOE"), the U.S Department of Defense ("DOD"), and the
commercial nuclear industry. The Company's nuclear services group provides project management,
waste
management, environmental restoration, decontamination and decommissioning, new build
construction,
and radiological protection, safety, and industrial hygiene capability to our clients. The
Company operates
four nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD, and
commercial
facilities, nationwide. Please visit us at http://www.perma-fix.com.
UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 598 contact: Seth Worley (509) 727-4068 Seth@UA598.org
PERMA-FIX AMONG THREE SUPPLIERS AWARDED FOUR-YEAR FRAMEWORK CONTRACT WORTH UP
TO £41 MILLION FOR THE TREATMENT AND CONDITIONING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN THE UK
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. announced today that it is one of
only three suppliers awarded a Framework Contract by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), part of the
United Kingdom's (UK) Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority (NDA), which is focused on management of the UK's nuclear waste, safely and
securely for generations to come. As a result of the award,
Perma-Fix has been selected to compete for firm, fixed-price and cost-reimbursement task orders
for the treatment and conditioning of radioactive
waste in the UK, with a maximum ceiling of £41 million over four years.
The Framework Agreement includes a variety of services covering the full waste lifecycle,
including but not limited to, project management, expert advice, characterization,
site preparations, dismantling, transport, segregation, treatment, conditioning and optimized
disposal.
Mark Duff, President and CEO of the Company, commented, “Perma-Fix is thrilled to receive
the award of this Framework Contract by the UK government's Nuclear Waste Services,
with a total value of up to £41 million across three suppliers for the treatment and
conditioning of radioactive waste. This award underscores our view of the market potential
for our services in Europe, as well as the importance of our current technology offering, which
has proven valuable in the US for over 30 years.”
Dr Craig Ashton, Waste Services Director at NWS, said, “This Framework Contract marks the
continued evolution of our service offering to customers as part of a longer-term strategy
for generating even greater value and enabling mission acceleration.”
RELATED ARTICLES: PERMA-FIX AMONG THREE SUPPLIERS AWARDED FOUR-YEAR FRAMEWORK CONTRACT WORTH
UP TO £41 MILLION FOR THE TREATMENT AND CONDITIONING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN THE UK (July
11, 2022):
CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press Release.
Diane McDaniel appointed Vice President of Nuclear Services Operations
Perma-Fix Environmental Services is adding to its leadership team with the appointment of Diane
McDaniel
as Vice President of Nuclear Services
Operations.
Diane reports to Andy Lombardo, Executive Vice President of Nuclear Services with responsibility for corporate
support to field projects, procurements, and business development initiatives.
“Adding an industry experienced and well-regarded leader like Diane during a period of
growth in the Services
sector is a big win for Perma-Fix.” said Andy Lombardo, Executive Vice President of Nuclear Services.
Diane brings 30 years of senior management experience in the Nuclear and Environmental industry.
Diane spent her
last 12 years at Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), Inc the management and operating
contractor for the NNSA Y12 and
Pantex sites. During her time with CNS, she most recently served as the Acting Senior Director
for Infrastructure Integration
and Y-12 Infrastructure Programs and Senior Director for Excess Facility Disposition and
Transformation. In these roles she was
responsible for stakeholder relations, programmatic strategy, funding acquisition, risk
management and project scope delivery
along with many other duties.
Perma-Fix Announces New Contract Award for Tritium Systems Demolition and
Disposal Project
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a multi-million dollar
service contract for the Tritium Systems Demolition
and Disposal (TSDD) project, which is expected to be completed over the next 18 months. The
purpose of the TSDD project is to remove legacy tritium systems
and equipment from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), with a goal of reducing the
risk of a release and safely disposing of contaminated materials.
Perma-Fix will serve as the technical expert for this project, providing project management,
characterization and material disposal services.
The key subcontractors include Gottstein Corporation and ICE Service Group, Inc. PPPL is a DOE
national laboratory operated by Princeton University, playing a
key role in assisting Fusion Energy Sciences achieve their strategic goals. The Tokamak Fusion
Test Reactor (TFTR) was an experimental tokamak built at
PPPL and was operated from 1982 to 1997 and removed in 2002. PPPL has some residual tritium, a
radioactive isotope of hydrogen, in the Tritium Systems
and Neutral Beam Boxes that were used to support TFTR, and that were left on-site after
completion of the TFTR experiment.
PERMA-FIX CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE
NATION'S MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is pleased to celebrate 30 years of Experience You Can
Trust.
Founded by Dr. Louis F. Centofanti in 1991, Perma-Fix has become a leader in the field of
nuclear waste treatment, nuclear services and health physics.
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Founder and Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives noted,I
am extremely proud of the entire team at Perma-Fix.
Over the past 30 years, we have successfully developed and deployed solutions for a wide
range of complex waste streams, while maintaining an impeccable
safety record. Given the inherent challenges of radioactive waste, we appreciate the trust
and confidence our customers have placed in us, as we
continually strive to provide unparalleled service and value. I truly believe our best years
are ahead and we look forward to continuing on our
mission of ensuring a clean and safe environment for future generations.
RELATED ARTICLES: PERMA-FIX CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
THE NATION'S MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES (April 13, 2021):
CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press Release.
PERMA-FIX DEVELOPS AND DEPLOYS PERMA-SORT℠ MATERIAL
SEGREGATION SYSTEM; AWARDED FIRST TWO CONTRACTS TO TREAT OVER 100 THOUSAND TONS OF MATERIAL FOR FEDERAL
CLIENT
Perma-Fix announced announced that it has completed development of its new
Perma-Sort℠ material sorting and
segregation process, a customized, conveyor-based radiological assay system designed to provide
100% characterization
of material efficiently and with industry-leading measurement quality. The Company also
announced it has been awarded
two federal contracts valued at $3.7 million to separate and treat radioactive materials from
over 100,000 tons of soils,
debris and dredged materials.
Mark Duff, Chief Executive Officer, stated, We are excited to announce that we have completed
both the design and development
of the nation's newest automated material sorting and segregation system. Drawing on
Perma-Fix's core capabilities of waste
characterization and health physics, the system provides efficient and innovative material
management for existing and future clients.
The launch of this technology represents an important milestone for the Company, as this
system has been under development for some time.
We developed Perma-Sort℠ in response to our customers' needs and believe
this new capability has the potential to generate significant revenue.
These first two contracts alone are collectively valued at $3.7 million with project
completion expected in the next few months. In addition,
we are currently working to expand the system to address other contaminates of concern.
RELATED ARTICLES: Perma-Fix Develops And Deploys PERMA-SORT(SM) Material Segregation System;
Awarded First Two Contracts To Treat Over 100 Thousand Tons Of Material For Federal Client (May
11, 2020):
CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press Release.
Perma-Fix Announces $15 Million in New Contract Awards
Perma-Fix announced it has been awarded new contracts in nuclear services projects valued at
approximately $15
million over the next 18 months with opportunities for expansion.
Mark Duff, Chief Executive Officer, stated, We have recently been awarded several new projects
that will further
increase our funded backlog and bolster our Services Segment revenues, reaffirming our
confidence we should see
significant improvement in our operating results in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.
These wins leverage our
experience in complex radiological contamination remediation and recovery efforts while
applying new technologies
to reduce cost and schedule durations. The new contracts include additional scope in Canada
as well as new
opportunities in the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy
(DOE) focusing on demolition
and remediation in radiological environments with direct potential for additional expansion
as the projects
evolve. Some of these projects also come with the potential to send additional waste to our
Treatment segment.
We believe these additional wins are a direct result of the improvements established last
year within our
business development organization and the innovations applied to our radiological
remediation activities.
These new contracts will assist in supporting our goals for sustained growth in the Services
Segment while
also strengthening our Treatment Segment through client expansion.
RELATED ARTICLES: Perma-Fix Announces $15 Million in New Contract Awards (September 24, 2019):
CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press Release.
Perma-Fix Completes Closure of M&EC Facility
Mark Duff, Chief Executive Officer, stated, We are pleased to announce that we have received
regulatory approval and completed the closure of our M&EC facility. Although this process
took longer than anticipated, we have now completed this cost savings initiative to
consolidate waste treatment capabilities within the three remaining facilities.
Additionally, as a result of the closure of this facility we received $5.0 million in cash
previously held as collateral for this facility under our financial assurance
policy.
The M&EC facility, operated by Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. under a lease through the
Department of Energy, was located at the East Tennessee Technology Park outside Oak Ridge, TN.
M&EC began operations on April 27, 2001 when the first drum of mixed waste was received and
processed.
M&EC was instrumental in solving the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense
legacy waste challenges during its 17 years of operation. This facility received, stored, and
treated over 25,000,000 pounds of low-level and mixed low-level radioactive waste for final
disposition. Facility closure activities began in 2018 with completion in mid-2019 to support
demolition.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Perma-Fix Completes Closure of M&EC Facility (July 25, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press
Release.
Perma-Fix Expands Sales and Business Development Team with Appointment of
Three Senior Nuclear Industry Executives
Perma-Fix is excited to announce the addition of three senior executives to support the
company's sales and business development initiatives.
The company appointed George Taylor as Vice President of Waste Services Business Development and
Sales, Chris Reno as Director of Nuclear Services
Business Development, and Brian Wood as Director of Commercial and Utility Business Development.
George Taylor appointed Vice President of Waste Services Business Development and
Sales
Mr. Taylor brings 35 years of experience in senior management and business development roles
within the nuclear industry.
Mr. Taylor previously served as the Vice President of Business Development for Visionary
Solutions, LLC and a Director of
its joint venture company, Aleut World Solutions. He was responsible for day to day operations
and he successfully led the
joint venture's return to profitability. Mr. Taylor expanded operations while he was there,
securing a $100M contract with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the nationwide transport and disposal of low-level
radioactive waste. He led engineering
and procurement projects with multiple U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security
Administration laboratories
all while working to support naval reactors and being a Liaison at the DOE Y-12 National
Security Complex with the Department
of Commerce Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor's degree in
Material Science and Engineering from Rice
University and an MBA from George Washington University.
Chris Reno appointed Director of Nuclear Services Business Development
Mr. Reno brings over 30 years of experience in senior management, sales and marketing in the
professional engineering and nuclear
management sectors. From 1994 to 2017 he held a variety of roles within Atkins (formerly
EnergySolutions, Duratek, Scientific
Ecology Group and Westinghouse) where he closed over $1B of service contracts with every major DOE
and NNSA facility in the United States.
During his tenure his primary focus was managing sales of "Tier II" services to DOE
contractors. His responsibilities included reviewing and
responding to federal solicitations and procurement regulations, managing proposal development and
contracts, strategic planning, client contact,
and presenting to senior management. Mr. Reno has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Economics
from California Polytechnic State University.
Brian Wood appointed as Director of Commercial and Utility Business Development
Mr. Wood brings more than 15 years of experience in hazardous waste, radioactive waste operations,
emergency management, chemical hazards,
disaster preparedness, environmental compliance, emergency response and hazard identification. Mr.
Wood previously served as the Waste Management
Manager at EnergySolutions, Inc. While there, he was the lead planner of radioactive waste
management projects in Asia, which included Fukushima and
decommissioning projects in Japan. Mr. Wood was also employed as a Senior Manager of Radioactive
Waste & Spent Fuel with the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA). During his time with TVA he developed numerous contracts for disposal, processing and
transporting radioactive waste. He is a former Staff Sergeant
with the Air National Guard and Senior Airman with the United States Air Force.
Mark Duff, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are delighted to welcome such experienced and proven
industry executives to the senior management team. Each of these individuals brings extensive
relationships with government and business leaders, as well as relevant experience in the nuclear
and environmental industries, which will be of tremendous value as we continue to grow our Treatment
and Services Segments. These appointments come at a key inflection point in the Company's
development, as we are focused on accelerating our growth through a variety of ongoing business
development initiatives and aggressively bidding on new contracts. We have begun to see the benefit
of the improvements we made last year within our business development organization, as illustrated
by the recent contracts awarded within the Services Segment and diversification of our revenue
streams in the Treatment Segment. We look forward to building upon this success with the addition of
these three proven executives."
CEES In-Tank Retrieval and Pre-Treatment System
On April 2nd, Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) representatives visited the Columbia Energy and
Environmental Services (CEES) facility
to observe the mock-up of the in-tank retrieval and pre-treatment system for the upcoming
2,000-gallon Test Bed Initiative project (TBI).
Brian Brendel, the President of CEES gave an overview of the TBI project and described the
technical advantages of the in-tank process for
the Hanford Tank Farms. The mock-up system represents a major milestone for the engineering
design approval and progress of the project.
The Perma-Fix Northwest employees present were: Richard Grondin (Vice President of Western
Operations), Michael McCargar
(Plant Operations Manager), Troy Cooley (Technical Manager), Scott Call (Health Physics
Manager), Tim Burkhard (Maintenance Manager),
Stephan Norton (Mechanical Drafter), Teresa McQueen (Industrial Hygienist), Nash Yamauchi
(Regulatory Compliance Assistant),
and Raphael Couture (Project Control).
Perma-Fix is excited to announce that we joined together with the WM Symposia (WMS) to host our
12th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, March 2, 2019 with a goal to raise charitable
donations for two organizations and facilitate networking amongst members of the nuclear
industry. This year, we are honored to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and
the Roy G. Post Foundation. With more than 140 golfers, our tournament successfully raised more
than $35,000 for charity. Thank you to all of our sponsors and golfers for the generous
donations and the continuous support.
Perma-Fix has supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for ten consecutive years
and is proud to continue our contributions through our annual golf tournament. St. Jude is one
of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers helping over 5,700 patients a
year. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for the
treatment not covered by insurance. STJude.Org
The Roy G. Post Foundation is a non-profit organization. Established by Dr. Roy G. Post’s
students, peers, and protégés,
this organization was put into place to honor Dr. Post’s legacy in nuclear engineering and
to help students develop
careers in the safe management of nuclear materials through scholarship grants.
RoyGPost.org
Perma-Fix Task Order for the Environmental Management Test Bed Initiative
Completion
"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the award of a cost-plus-fixed-fee task
order
under the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for the DOE EM Test Bed
Initiative (TBI)
for Offsite Treatment and Disposal of Hanford Low Activity to Waste (LAW). The IDIQ contract was
awarded to
Aerostar Perma-Fix TRU Services, LLC (APT Services, LLC), located in Oak Ridge, TN. APT
Services, LLC is a Small Business.
The task order will have a maximum value of $4.8 million over a ten-month performance period.
Work under this task order includes:
In-Tank Pre-Treatment System (ITPS) design completion
ITPS fabrication, testing, training, installation and operation support
Waste treatment (approx. 2,000 gallons), packaging, transportation, and disposal
TBI Final Report"
RELATED ARTICLES:
TBI Facts Sheet (July 12, 2018): CLICK HERE TO READ
Published by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM)
Seeking Alpha - Perma-Fix Environmental Services: An Intriguing Risk-Reward (April 2, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by seekingalpha.com
Energy secretary Rick Perry talks Hanford costs at hearing (March 26, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Tri-City Herald
DOE Awards Task Order for the Environmental Management Test Bed Initiative Completion (January 28,
2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Energy.gov
Potentially cheaper, faster Hanford radioactive waste treatment to be tested (January 28, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Tri-City Herald
$110 billion bump in federal cleanup costs (January 29, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Tri-City Herald
Hanford Lifecycle Report (January 31, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Hanford.gov
Hanford cleanup costs triple. And that's the "best case scenario" in a new report
(February 01, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Tri-City Herald
New GeoMelt® Vitrification System Successfully Completes Hot Commissioning
and First Demonstration Melt
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PESI) announced that Veolia Nuclear Services' (VNS) new 10-tonne GeoMelt®
In-Container Vitrification (ICV™) plant, cooperatively installed and operated by Perma-Fix
at the Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) facility in Richland, Washington, has
successfully completed hot commissioning and its first in a series of demonstration melts for
the US Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to treat sodium contaminated
radioactive wastes.
The contract with the INL to treat the sodium contaminated wastes follows successful engineering
scale demonstrations of the patented GeoMelt® technology earlier in the year. The goal of
the engineering scale testing was to confirm the ability of the GeoMelt® technology to
create a safer treatment approach that lowers the lifecycle cost to disposition radioactive
contaminated reactive metal waste streams resulting from decommissioning sodium cooled reactors.
The demonstration, supported by glass formulation and crucible testing, consisted of a series of
bench scale ICV™ melts that processed elemental sodium into a stable non-reactive form.
The objective of the new INL contract, awarded in September to VNS Federal Services LLC (VNSFS),
is to demonstrate at full-scale the treatment capabilities of the GeoMelt® technology by
chemically converting the reactive metals to an inert oxide, thereby delisting the sodium hazard
in the waste and immobilizing and stabilizing the radioactive contamination. Under the
agreement, Perma-Fix and VNS (www.nuclearsolutions.veolia.com) will treat the drums contaminated
with radioactive sodium wastes. The Fermi Drums were received at INL in the 1980s. They were
contaminated with low-level radioactively contaminated elemental sodium from the Enrico Fermi
Atomic Power Plant and have been maintained at INL for decades. However, as a credit to the
partnership with INL, the maturity of the technology and an aggressive construction schedule,
the team successfully completed the first melt of 55 drums of radioactive contaminated sodium
wastes on December 20, 2018.
Mark Duff, Perma-Fix President & CEO, stated, "I am pleased to report we successfully completed
hot commissioning and an important demonstration project for the US Department of Energy Idaho
National Laboratory to treat sodium contaminated radioactive wastes. Expanding our PFNW facility
to accept and treat sodium contaminated radioactive wastes provides an outlet for these wastes
that is not currently available. This successful demonstration marks an important milestone in
our partnership with Veolia Nuclear Solutions and illustrates the unique nature of our
facilities, permits and capabilities. Importantly, we continue to execute on our strategy to
broaden our market base by treating complex waste streams through new technologies and
partnerships within our industry."
RELATED ARTICLES:
Perma-Fix Announces New GeoMelt® Vitrification System Successfully Completes Hot Commissioning
and First Demonstration Melt (January 22, 2019): CLICK HERE TO READ the Perma-Fix Press Release
Hanford Test Bed Initiative
The DOE Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) is conducting a 2,000-gallon Test Bed Initiative (TBI) to demonstrate the
feasibility of options for retrieval and treatment of the low activity portion of the tank waste
at the Hanford Site in Washington State.
Previously, DOE-EM conducted a proof-of-concept demonstration using 3-gallons of Hanford tank
waste and a slightly modified technology. This TBI is a larger scale test of 2,000 gallons of
Hanford tank waste using the technology chosen in the currently-planned demonstration facility.
The initial 3 gallon test, completed in December 2017, demonstrated that Hanford tank waste
could be successfully pretreated, transported to Perma-Fix Environmental
Services Northwest (PFNW) for stabilization, and disposed of as treated LLW in a solid
waste form at WCS FWF. Approximately three gallons of tank waste were pretreated using
filtration and ion-exchange at Hanford's 222-S Laboratory, operated by Washington River
Protection Solutions (WRPS), to remove suspended solids and cesium. Following
stabilization at PFNW, the resulting material was determined to be LLW in accordance with the
Waste Incidental to Reprocessing (WIR) requirements in DOE Manual 435.1-1, and complied with
federal and state regulatory requirements.
The Savannah River
National Laboratory performed an evaluation to assess the viability of disposing of
Hanford treated tank LLW at WCS FWF and concluded that, DOE could potentially accelerate
Hanford's tank closure efforts if commercial treatment and disposal facilities were
included as an alternative for managing Hanford tank waste.
RELATED ARTICLES:
DOE Awards Task Order for the Environmental Management Test Bed Initiative Completion (January 28,
2019): CLICK HERE TO READ Published by Energy.gov
TBI Facts Sheet (July 12, 2018): CLICK HERE TO READ
Published by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM)
A Glimpse at Perma-Fix's 16th Nuclear Waste Management Forum 2018
Perma-Fix held the 16th Nuclear Waste Management Forum at the Gaylord Opryland Resort &
Convention Center November 26th through 28th in Nashville, Tennessee. The forum focused on the
exchange of information related to the nuclear industry's waste management objectives and
programs providing industry leaders an opportunity to network with experts from a variety of
U.S. and international waste generator sites, government officials, and other small and large
businesses. Many thanks to the 190 attendees, including our clients, sponsors, and outstanding
presenters, that made this year's forum a great success.
The forum hosted a variety of speakers representing Nuclear Utility Plants, International
Entities, and U.S. DOE programs including the Office of Environmental Management (EM), the
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the Office of Science (SC) all with vested
interests in the area of radioactive decommissioning and waste management.
Our Key Note speakers provided energetic presentations with valuable insight behind current
public policy, the Department of Energy's (DOE) waste management initiatives, and an
outlook for new contracting strategies that drive project completion. These speakers included:
Zach Wamp, Consulting/Business Development and U.S. Member of Congress (1995 - 2011)
Douglas Tonkay, Director, Office of Waste Disposal, Office of Environmental Management, U.S.
Department of Energy
Darren Shank, Executive Vice President, Sterling Engineering and Consulting
Our 2018 forum panels consisted of Decontamination, Decommissioning, and Remediation; Waste
Management Initiatives for National Laboratories; Continuous Improvements Through Lessons
Learned; Working to Solve Transportation, Packaging, and Characterization Challenges; Disposal
Site Updates; Perma-Fix Expanding to Meet Waste Treatment Challenges and Provide Turn-Key
Solutions For Our Clients; and Regulatory Training.
Through the 2 days of sessions, attendees learned about the latest technologies and applications
regarding waste characterization, packaging, treatment, transportation, and disposition while
sharing lessons learned that could improve safety and efficiency for their projects. The evening
events were hosted at local entertainment venues providing the optimal environment for casual
networking.
Classified Area Is Operational
The East Tennessee Materials & Energy Corporation, Inc. (M&EC) entity has relocated classified
operations under the recent footprint expansion at the Perma-Fix Diversified
Scientific Services, Inc. (DSSI) facility in Kingston, TN. The first shipments of
classified waste to the new facility in Kingston, TN were successfully received in September
2018.
Due to the relocation of classified operations from a DOE controlled site to a totally
commercial site, M&EC revised and developed more than 15 plans and procedures for DOE's
review and approval and had to "pass" a DOE security review of the new facility. Personnel with
security clearances were required to complete training on the new plans and procedures and
become familiar with Operational Security (OPSEC) elements and Security Condition (SECON)
Program security threat levels as dictated by DOE and the Department of Homeland Security.
On August 2, 2018, DOE-OR staff approved continuance of classified operations at the newly
located facility. M&EC has more than 20 years of operational experience dealing with classified
matter and will continue to receive and manage classified matter up to the secret restricted
data (SRD) level adhering to all DOE safeguards and security requirements and will operate in
full compliance under DSSI's State of Tennessee issued RCRA Part B permit and Radioactive
Materials License.
Perma-Fix is excited to continually expand capabilities to support our clients' needs!
Gwinnett County Household Hazardous Waste Day
Perma-Fix was awarded a contract by the Gwinnett County Purchasing Division in Georgia as the
selected vendor for its Household Hazardous Waste Event for the Department of Support Services.
This event was established by the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, Gwinnett County
Department of Water Resources, and Gwinnett County Solid
Waste Department to provide its residents with a safe and environmentally responsible
path forward for the disposition of their household hazardous waste.
Perma-Fix serviced more than 800 vehicles and offered a safe outlet for a variety of wastes that
could prove harmful to the environment. Wastes collected include:
• Flammables (4.2 tons) - including oil based paints, stains, thinners,
paint strippers, solvents, varnishes and wood preservatives. These hazardous fuels will be
blended to a specification allowing them to be used as a fuel in the production of cement.
• Lawn Care Products (2.8 tons) - including poisons, insecticides, weed
killers, and pesticides. These hazardous chemicals will be sent for thermal destruction to a
permitted incinerator.
• Automotive Products (1.9 tons) - including used oil, antifreeze and
batteries. These items will be recycled.
• Cleaners (1.2 tons) - including spot removers, acids and bases, and
oxidizers. These hazardous chemicals will be neutralized and/or sent for other treatment to a
permitted treatment storage and disposal facility.
• Mercury (.5 tons) - including elemental mercury, thermostats,
thermometers, and fluorescent bulbs and lamps. These hazardous items will be sent for recycling
and mercury retort.
• Latex Paint (17.6 tons) - including all latex and water-based paints and
products. These non-hazardous special wastes will be sent to an approved disposal facility.
• Other Misc. (.2 tons) - including other items such as propane cylinders
and fire extinguishers. These items will be sent for recycling.
Perma-Fix is pleased to have been part this community event and is looking forward to supporting
Gwinnett and neighboring counties in the Atlanta Region for future events.
Read more at Patch.com
Radioactive Waste Water Treatment
The Perma-Fix of Florida (PFF) facility has unveiled its new state of the
art evaporator system providing ideal solutions for low level radioactive, non-hazardous waste
waters.
The PFF evaporator provides significant volume reductions for minimal landfill impact,
saving the customer significant transportation and disposal costs. PFF's trained staff
allows for preliminary and final treatment of the water/residue to ensure land disposal
restriction (LDR) compliance of all waste streams.
Radioactive Reactive Metals Deactivation
Perma-Fix facilities Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) and Diversified Scientific Services Inc. (DSSI) are entering the
radioactive contaminated reactive metals deactivation business, and although they are taking
different paths to meet the RCRA standards, they share in the commitment to ensure both
employee and public safety throughout the process.
On June 21-22, 2018, five employees from PFNW and DSSI took advantage of training provided
by Creative Engineers Inc. in New Freedom, Pennsylvania to
learn about reactive metals, specifically the Alkali metals. Training topics included:
• Properties and hazards of Alkali metals
• PPE and first aid
• Fire, spill, and emergency response
• Storage and transportation of Alkali metals
As part of the training, a sodium-potassium alloy (NaK) was reacted with water and then,
under controlled conditions, was ignited, spilled, and tools were contaminated with it so
that the class could learn firsthand how to handle and respond to the emergency.
Since sodium is a topic close to the hearts of the employees of both facilities, Creative
Engineers took out some bricks of sodium to show they were safe to handle provided there was
no water present at the time.
Attendees included Facility Managers Joe Crider and Richard Grondin, operations personnel
Dakin Utley and Troy Cooley, as well as DSSI Health and Safety Manager Chasity Boatwright.
An Evening for the Angels
Perma-Fix Northwest sponsored the Evening for the Angels, a themed event featuring "The Great
American Songbook, from Berlin to Bacharach" on July 7, 2018 in Richland, Washington to support
Chaplaincy Hospice Care. The Chaplaincy Hospice Care is a
recognized source for expert guidance and compassionate, spiritually-rooted care in times of
crisis, grief, and healing. The night featured performer Cathy Kelly as well as guest artists
Gary Danielson, Paul Francik, Melina Hall, and Steve Haberman. The event was supported by
approximately 300 attendees.
Household Hazardous Waste Amnesty Day Results
On March 23, 2018, Perma-Fix was notified by Cobb Country in Georgia that we were selected as the
vendor for its Household Hazardous Waste Amnesty Day. Citing our well-prepared bid, the
Executive Director for Cobb County stated we were "best suited for our program and budget." Over
the ensuing months, Perma-Fix planned for the event and worked closely with the County-s Parks
Department to make sure the event would be a success.
On June 23, the day of the event, the weather could not have been any better for this suburb of
Atlanta, with temperatures in the mid-80s and no rain. We knew the event was going to be well
attended even before it started - at 8 a.m. there was already a long line of cars encircling Jim
R. Miller Park and the event was not scheduled to officially start until an hour later!
In all, over 1,000 vehicles brought approximately 33,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals and over
40,000 pounds of latex paint. Residents from Cobb County turned out in full force in their cars,
pickup trucks, and SUVs to take part in this worthwhile event. Perma-Fix and County employees
were well equipped to keep the vehicles moving through the line in a safe and orderly manner.
In addition to pesticides and other household hazardous waste collected during the one-day
event, fluorescent tubes, batteries, and thermometers were also accepted for recycling.
Perma-Fix President and CEO, Mark Duff also participated in the event. He commented "I think
that the residents of Cobb County are really aware of their environment and they want to protect
the beauty of their county. It is a perfect fit for us to partner with these communities and
offer our waste recycling and disposal services because we want to be responsible stewards of
the environment. That is one of our core values.
Perma-Fix to Open Commercial Laboratory
Perma-Fix will soon open a certified radiochemistry laboratory in a new comprehensive oil and gas
(O&G) waste facility in Friendly, West Virginia. Perma-Fix staff have provided health physics
and waste management services to O&G exploration and production companies in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and West Virginia for the past eight years. Because of the reputation Perma-Fix has built in the
region's O&G industry, SECUR LLC sought out Perma-Fix to provide health physics support and
design, build, and operate a one-of-a-kind on-site radiochemistry lab at their Ben's Run
Oil and Gas Materials Management Facility.
The need for an on-site lab is the result of recent rule changes in West Virginia requiring
every load of waste (usually a roll-off container) to be sampled and analyzed for total radium
activity concentration. The method of choice for analysis is gamma spectroscopy. Perma-Fix has
ample experience in setting up on-site labs to perform gamma spectroscopy, having done so at
various decommissioning sites across the country. However, the Perma-Fix Friendly Laboratory
will be unique in that Perma-Fix will operate the lab independently and can analyze samples from
commercial clients across the country. Currently, two Canberra gamma spectroscopy systems along
with an automated sample changer are in place. Certification for gamma spectroscopy of solid
samples by the State of West Virginia has been applied for, with future plans to achieve
additional state and federal certification. Additional systems and analyses will also be added
to the lab.
Perma-Fix employee Jesus Zamora, an outstanding nuclear engineer from the University of Florida,
will manage the lab Perma-Fix anticipates obtaining certification this June, and interviews for
an additional analyst are underway.
Perma-Fix DSSI Facility Begins Treatment Of Reactive Sodium Waste
Design, construction, and testing is complete on a processing system used to deactivate residual
reactive sodium contained in drums. The processing system is contained within a temperature and
humidity controlled enclosure located in the DSSI processing facility.
Conceptual and engineering design as well as fabrication and construction of the system were
completed by DSSI employees.
We've Moved!
The Perma-Fix Business Center is excited to announce that we have moved from Knoxville to
Commerce Park in Oak Ridge, TN! Our main phone number will remain the same. Please note our new
address:
Perma-Fix Business Center
1093 Commerce Park Drive
Suite 300
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (865) 690-0501
New EPA E-manifest Regulations for Hazardous Waste Shipments
On Jan 3, 2018 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the final ruling for the
implementation of E-manifest submission required on all hazardous waste shipments. This ruling
will require all manifests to be submitted and signed electronically starting in June.
Perma-Fix is here to help all of our customers in this transition. Perma-Fix is committed to
educating our staff and our customers to ensure compliance and satisfaction in our handling of
waste from pick up to final disposal. "New regulations always present the potential for business
disruption, but with Perma-Fix as your waste management solutions provider we will reduce any
hurdles or learning curve you incur in the transition. The eventual benefits of the new system
will be worth the effort in changing the way we track shipments of hazardous waste" explains
Perma-Fix of Florida EHS Manager, Kurt Fogleman.
Perma-Fix Canada is proud to announce the opening of our new office in downtown Pembroke, ON,
Canada. The office is in very close proximity to Chalk River Laboratory facility where we are
presently providing radiation protection personnel and waste management consulting services.
This office will serve as our Perma-Fix Canada Operations Headquarters.
Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) Hosts Emergency Drill
PFNW, Perma-Fix's Richland, Washington facility, hosted an emergency
response drill on Wednesday, March 21st. Why hosted and not held? Because at the direction of
Assistant General Manager and ESH&Q Manager Curt Cannon, it was a joint drill which also
involved a combination of the Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick Fire Departments. "The drills are a
requirement as part of our regulatory compliance and, whenever we can, we like to involve the
local agencies," says Curt.
The drill involved a simulation in which a pair of employees entered a tank to perform clean out
and survey operations and were later found unconscious inside it. Coordinated by PFNW
responders, fire department responders were called rescue operations were undertaken to retrieve
the entrants. Throughout the operation, Perma-Fix employee Jesse Romero, who is an actual on
site Emergency Coordinator, as well as a Perma-Fix Low-Level Thermal Supervisor, choreographed
the response, including the 911 call, air monitoring, incident scribe, and the initial retrieval
operations that took place prior to the arrival of the fire department. Jesse worked closely
with the collaborative departments to complete the rescue operation and render the incident safe
and secure.
Both entrants were safely removed from the tanker without incident. Perma-Fix appointed
observers to record the good and the bad, and were given the opportunity to share the
observations with Jesse and his team and foster the continuous improvement always strives for at
the facility. Not only did PFNW employees learn a few lessons from the 25 emergency responders
representing the Tri-Cities, but the responders themselves were quick to point out that they
also gained some new insights as well. Great job to all those involved!
Canadian Nuclear Association's conference and trade show CNA2018
Canada's Nuclear Advantage: The Next Generation in Ottawa achieved record attendance due to
the emerging scope at Bruce Power and legacy remediation projects at Port Hope and Port Granby.
Perma-Fix is well positioned for these initiatives and we are looking forward to future
opportunities to serve our Canadian friends.
Perma-Fix of Florida Sees continued growth in Industrial Segment
Perma-Fix of Florida (PFF), located in Gainesville, FL, reported a strong
2017 in their industrial segment and continues to see progress in 2018. In 2017 PFF received and
processed 14% more drums than handled in 2016. This increase in waste acceptance kept industrial
busy with processing about 1600 drums per month of hazardous waste.
The PFF industrial segment has over 20 years of expertise in handling of wastes from a broad
spectrum of generators including universal waste, spent paints and oils, medical and
pharmaceutical waste, hazardous chemicals, and more. Kurt Fogleman, PFF EHS manager adds
"Perma-Fix is uniquely positioned in the industrial
market. The wide variety of our capabilities allows us to be the one-stop solution our
customers need. We serve any waste management need with
a proven track record of safety and environmental compliance."
Happy 25th Anniversary Perma-Fix (PESI)
The Nasdaq tower congratulates Perma-Fix in Times Square as December 8, 2017 marked the 25th
anniversary of PESI's Nasdaq listing.
Workers in the mixed waste portion of the Perma-Fix Northwest plant are making progress removing
legacy vacuum thermal desorption systems to make way for installation of new technologies.
Current plans for this location are to house systems to manage and treat non-bulk sodium wastes
to stabilize the reactive characteristics for direct disposal. Completion of these systems to
support operations of new treatment capabilities will take place in Q3 2018.
Tank waste test at Perma-Fix Northwest may identify a cost saving option for
the Hanford cleanup Project
The Tri-City Herald reported on the possibilities of a less expensive treatment option for some
of the tank waste stored at the Hanford site. Three gallons of the tank waste were shipped to
the Perma-Fix Northwest facility in Richland WA for testing. A successful test could enable DOE
to potentially save a bundle on the cleanup process.
Perma-Fix grabs the NORM market in the northeast U.S.
Perma-Fix Nuclear Services/Beaver, PA Technical Center - Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
(NORM) practice lead Alex Lopez, Certified Health Physicist (CHP) added a fifth new oil and gas
exploration and production client for the 2017 calendar year. The addition of Eric Miller, CHP
and Alex to the already strong health physics staff in the Beaver Office, has allowed Perma-Fix
to corner the NORM market in the northeast. The Health Physics Services staff now boasts 6 CHPs.
Perma-Fix provides NORM & TENORM services including regulatory compliance, worker and corporate
education, transportation and disposal, employee exposure monitoring, field testing, and the
development and implementation of NORM procedures and plans. Perma-Fix services oil and gas
clients in all three major industry components: upstream, midstream, and downstream.
Waste Treatment
Our fixed base facilities offer highly specialized treatment options that help reduce risk and avoid costly internal program development.