Pantex and Y-12 receive excellence awards for safety, infrastructure, and operations
July 31, 2022

OAK RIDGE, TN -- Safety, infrastructure, and operations are the heartbeat of a manufacturing facility. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations (NA-50) recently awarded the 2021 NA-50 Excellence Awards to teams that helped keep production moving at the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex.

The annual award program was established to recognize teams and individuals for accomplishments made in support of NA-50 efforts to achieve the NNSA mission. Two teams at Pantex and five teams at Y-12 were honored for their innovation, teamwork, and collaboration.

Pantex projects
Pantex projects receiving awards returned the site to safe operations after record-low temperatures and established a new printed wire assembly capability.

A Pantex team worked efficiently and effectively to return 22 facilities to safe operations following a record-breaking freeze. DOE

The Pantex Freeze Event Team went into action when temperature extremes caused freeze damage in 22 production and support facilities. The team included NNSA Production Office (NPO) staff and resolved 184 work orders and returned the facilities to safe operational status.

By modifying and upgrading a facility, a Pantex team facilitated the production of printed wire assemblies on site, reducing build times and increasing efficiency. DOE

The other recognized Pantex team focused on supporting a printed wire assembly (PWA) capability, which included facility modifications and upgrades to support the process. This solution reduces PWA building times and increases efficiency.


Y-12 projects
The Y-12 projects ranged from producing sustainable disinfectant to coordinating with the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) on disposition of legacy facilities. In addition to CNS staff, employees from the following entities were also recognized: the NPO, OREM, the Y12 Acquisition and Project Management Office, GemTech NSS, and UCOR.

A Y-12 team working with DOE-EM and GemTech NSS successfully removed a tower and building that were adjacent to an occupied facility (at left). DOE

One team was honored for performing a transportation risk assessment on a package that required a national security exemption before it could be shipped. The work by the team became the basis for the exemption approval process.

IMAGE: building - Another award-winning Y-12 project also involved working with DOE-EM and UCOR to demolish and dispose of the Biology Complex, making the space available for future use. DOE

Another award-winning Y-12 project also involved working with DOE-EM and UCOR to demolish and dispose of the Biology Complex, making the space available for future use. DOE

Two projects with ties to OREM received awards. The first team worked with GemTech NSS to safely removed three buildings without damaging or impacting an adjacent occupied facility. The second team worked with UCOR to demolish and dispose of the Biology Complex and clear the area for future use.

A Sustainability and Stewardship team removed legacy equipment from a Y-12 production building and decontaminated more than 38,000 square feet of space and, which removed legacy hazards from the site and made the space available for new processes and equipment. DOE

A Sustainability and Stewardship team removed legacy equipment in a process building to make space for new processes and equipment. This effort involved decontaminating more than 38,000 square feet of space, which removed legacy hazards from the site.

Working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Y-12 team developed a way to manufacture disinfectant on site. DOE

The final team partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to manufacture disinfectant on site. This effort improved safety and allowed employees to continue working during the pandemic. These award-winning projects highlight the caliber of work at Pantex and Y-12 as modernization efforts continue.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; 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.