Y-12 and Pantex teams recognized for excellence in infrastructure

Oak Ridge, Tenn.— The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Infrastructure recently recognized seven teams from the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The teams, made up of hundreds of employees from the NNSA Production Office (NPO) and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), were honored with Excellence Awards for outstanding accomplishments during Fiscal Year 2022.

“The work done by these teams, and those who support them, will further the NNSA mission for years to come,” NPO Manager Teresa Robbins said. “Their commitment to excellence and creative solutions make them among the best in the Nuclear Security Enterprise.”

From streamlining routine maintenance tasks to installing essential machines for operations and finding environmentally friendly solutions, the winning teams’ work impacts day-to-day infrastructure tasks integral to serving the nation.

“Safety, a reliable infrastructure, and efficient operations are the heartbeat of our sites,” CNS President and CEO Rich Tighe said. “These award-winning projects highlight the outstanding dedication to the safe modernization of our infrastructure and ultimately to our important national security mission.”

At Y-12, four groups were recognized. One team removed a contaminated legacy building without impacting the environment or putting people at risk. The team’s efforts made way for continuing innovation and construction on-site. Another team earned accolades for shrinking a maintenance backlog by 66%, ensuring continued employee safety. Additional teams recognized at Y-12 included one that proactively planned for climate change and another that successfully completed a machine maintenance program despite multiple supply chain issues.

At Pantex, three teams were recognized with awards. One was honored for completing a planned site electrical outage with a scope impacting the largest number of production facilities and personnel the plant has ever undertaken. Another team was recognized for replacing three high-risk chillers to provide a better work environment for critical mission support areas.

A third group, the High Explosives Science and Engineering project construction team, worked together with an environmental project team to relocate 15,000 cubic yards of excess soil on site, saving approximately 70,000 heavy truck miles, reducing fuel consumption by 12,500 gallons and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 130 tons.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@pxy12.doe.gov

Completion of Building 9404-18 Disposition

This Y-12 team reduced risk to people and the environment while tearing down a building that posed a major technical challenge due to legacy contamination.

Y-12 Fire Department Corrective Maintenance Backlog Reduction

Resilient Sustainability Strengthens Present and Future Mission

Machine Maintenance Installation and Retrofitting

A Y-12 maintenance team working multiple projects simultaneously overcame supply chain issues and delays to deliver several machines on time and on schedule, earning a 2022 NA-90 Infrastructure Excellence award.
Focusing on energy resilience and climate readiness by creating an integrated site response to NNSA’s Energy Resilient Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation Initiative earned this team an Award of Excellence.