DOE–Parsons Salt Waste Processing Facility Project Recognized as Project of the Year by ASCE SC

PASADENA, CA (July 13, 2016) – The Department of Energy (DOE) Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) project, in Aiken, SC, has been named Project of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, South Carolina Section (ASCE SC). DOE Federal Project Director Pamela Marks and Parsons Program Director Cherri DeFigh-Price accepted the award for the project team at a ceremony at the 2016 South Carolina Engineering Conference in Charleston on June 23. Parsons is the prime contractor on the project.

The SWPF, a $2.3 billion Category II nuclear facility, was designed to process the salt component of the radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The facility was designed and built with extremely tight tolerances for piping and tanks. A total of 27 mi of piping were installed and 91,000 tons of concrete used during construction.The DOE accepted Parsons’ April 22, 2016, declaration of Construction Completion on May 26, 2016. This milestone was achieved 8 months ahead of the contract target schedule of December 31, 2016, and approximately $65 million under the contract target cost for construction.

“Accomplishing a project the magnitude of SWPF takes a great many people. Everyone involved in the project is to be commended for their hard work and dedication to completing construction of this facility. ‘Project of the Year’ is a very fitting honor for SWPF,” said DOE-Savannah River Manager Jack Craig.

“Parsons competed with numerous distinguished civil engineering projects throughout the state and appreciates the recognition ASCE SC has bestowed on us with this award,” stated Chris Alexander, Parsons Executive Vice President and Manager of the Federal Infrastructure and Environment Division

“I’m proud of our team for the tremendous effort they made during the Construction phase and honored by ASCE SC’s recognition of this unique and challenging project,” stated Frank Sheppard, Parsons Senior Vice President and SWPF Project Manager. “Achieving Construction Completion marks our transition into the Testing and Commissioning phase of the facility and brings us closer to our ultimate goal of beginning operations and accelerating the tank waste cleanup mission at the Savannah River Site.”

Parsons has supported the DOE at the SRS for more than 25 years. The corporation has served as the prime SWPF contractor since 2002, with responsibility for design, construction, and commissioning as well as operating the facility for 1 year. With construction complete, the project is one step closer to being ready for operations, which is planned for late 2018.