Historic $3M budget approved for Hanford Site cleanup

Hanford received $3.05 billion for 2024, a $205 million increase from 2023, and the first time Hanford funding has exceeded $3 billion.

President Joe Biden signed the historic budget on March 9. He also released his administration’s proposed budget for 2025, which would include about $3.1 billion for Hanford.

Consistently providing sufficient funding to Hanford will help to complete cleanup decades sooner and reduce the risk of a significant contamination release or collapse from the site’s aging infrastructure, the state Department of Ecology said in a release.

Ecology estimates a compliant budget of $4.56 billion is needed in Fiscal Year 2025.

DOE awards $45 billion contract for Hanford cleanup work

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a 10-year contract up to $45 billion to a Virginia-based company for Hanford cleanup work.

The contract with Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure LLC includes requirements for some work to be performed by small businesses.

H2C is a newly formed limited liability company made up of BWXT Technical Services Group Inc., Amentum Environment & Energy Inc., and Fluor Federal Services Inc.

Work to be performed under this contract includes:

Operation of tank farm facilities, including single-shell tank waste retrieval and closure;

Design, construction, and operation of waste receiving facilities and treatment capabilities.

Operation of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

Core functions such as project management; environment, safety, health, and quality; security and emergency services; and business performance requirements.

No site workforce impacts are expected. Competitive and comparable benefits will also continue under the new contract, according to a U.S. Department of Energy release.

Leadership Tri-Cities seeks applicants for next class

Are you interested in leadership development training? Apply to be part of Leadership Tri-Cities' Class 28. Applications for the 11-month program are due by May 1.

The program is interested in people already involved in leadership roles within the community and emerging leaders seeking opportunities to grow.

Leadership Tri-Cities is an educational program focused on leadership, founded in 1994, in which members participate in 10 full-day sessions that cover important sectors in the community, including health and medical services; law enforcement and justice; agriculture; and Hanford.

Tuition in 2024-25 is $2,200 per person, which covers all fees, meals, session transportation and lodging.  

Go to: leadershiptricities.com/apply.

Tri-Cities Airport adds new nonstop California flight

Avelo Airlines is offering new nonstop service from the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco to a popular California wine country destination.

The wine country-to-wine country service starts May 1 to the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

Flights depart Pasco on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Tri-Cities project to share in renewable energy grants

Fourteen projects that will expand the use of renewable energy in the state’s electric grid will share in $8.1 million in grants, and a Tri-Cities project is among them.

Energy Northwest received $149,534 to study the technical and economic characteristics of a long-duration energy storage project study in Benton County.

Tri-City business owners face up to 30 years for Covid loan fraud

Two Tri-City business owners have been indicted on suspicion of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims.

The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted funding applications in the name of Larsen Firearms, owned by Leif Gerald Larsen of Pasco, and Solar Mobility LLC, RealNZ Water LLC, and Tempest Tactical Solutions LLC, all owned by David Kurt Schneider of Kennewick, who also faces money laundering charges.

The fraud charges carry sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison, as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds.

Summer jobs now open for central Washington teens

The state Department of Ecology is hiring up to 60 teenagers throughout central Washington — including in Richland — as part of the summer Ecology Youth Corps program.

Teens ages 14 to 17 who are chosen for the program will earn $16.28 an hour.

They will work in one of the following sessions: July 1-22 and July 23 to Aug. 8.

In an average year, Ecology litter crews pick up over 1 million pounds of litter and clean over 4,000 miles of roads statewide. Nearly 100,000 pounds of that litter is recycled each year.

Applications are due April 1.

Go to: ecology.wa.gov/EYC.

HAPO Center receives $3 million grant from Legislature

The HAPO Center in Pasco will receive money for upgrades to the HAPO Center’s HVAC system on the arena side of the facility.

https://franklincountywa.org/f/hapo-center-receives-3-million-dollar-grant-from-wa-legislature

New report highlights $1.46B investment in workforce training

Workforce development is a good investment for Washington, according to a new report highlighting how the state’s workforce development system helps job seekers find training and employers connect with skilled workers.

Nineteen programs served 531,000-plus people in the 2021-22 fiscal year and were funded by more than $1.46 billion in state and federal investments.

Examples include registered apprenticeships, career and technical education, support for veterans and customized training for businesses, among others. These programs help people find jobs, improve skills and access advanced training.

“This report shows that workforce development is a good investment for Washington,” said Workforce Board Executive Director Eleni Papadakis in a statement. “Apprenticeship programs, for example, show a 10-year economic impact of $4.9 billion and taxpayer return on investment of $7.80 to $1.”

Volunteers sought at MCBONES

The MCBONES Research Center Foundation seeks volunteers to help out at the Coyote Canyon Mammoth research dig site.

The site outside Richland contains the remains of a Columbian mammoth, likely killed in an Ice Age flood 17,000 years ago. Through paleontology, geology, biology, botany and more, researchers are able to learn about this mammoth’s historical context. Findings and analysis are shared with the public, and both public and private tours of the site are available.

Volunteers are needed at the site, particularly for the sale of merchandise and as dig house manager. Volunteering opportunities are open to both high school youths (if accompanied by an adult) and adults. Any necessary training will be provided on the job.

Those interested in volunteering should contact Gary Kleinknecht at gary.kleinknecht@charter.net or 509-438-9417.

Go to mcbones.org for more information.