The primary mission of the Hanford Site 222-S Laboratory is to provide analytical support for the storage and treatment of Hanford tank waste.

In January, Hanford Laboratories Management and Integration (HLMI) took over as the prime contractor operating the lab.

HLMI is a partnership between two small businesses: Navarro Research and Engineering Inc. and Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International Inc. These businesses bring world-class expertise and high-quality analytical services to the Hanford site.

HLMI understands the critical role the 222-S Lab plays in safely ensuring timely and high-quality analytical services to achieve the Hanford site mission.

Hanford samples can be highly radioactive and are typically complex. As lab manager, I know our highly trained team is capable of handling the high volume of analytical services and providing innovative analytical techniques to meet and exceed Hanford mission requirements.

As we move forward, we are committed to meeting the needs of Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste operations as the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant transitions to operations. The 222-S Laboratory staff will provide the analytical services to characterize tank waste to ensure it is suitable to be pretreated and fed to the plant’s Low-Activity Waste Facility for vitrification, or immobilization in glass.

HLMI values its employees and recognizes they are key to the company’s success.

The technical and operational challenges associated with operating a radiochemical laboratory are immense; however, we are confident our team is up to the challenge.

As we have navigated through the Covid-19 pandemic, our employees have identified innovative solutions to ensure we keep one another safe and maintain the continuity of analytical services that are critical to the Hanford mission success.

Going forward, I express my gratitude to our employees and their families for their daily commitments to performance excellence and safety, and I know they will bring this same commitment to the Hanford environment.

On behalf of the HLMI team, I pledge our commitment to the greater Tri-Cities community we are resolute in our pursuit of excellence in support of the One Hanford mission.

Don B. Hardy is manager of the 222-S Laboratory.