August 2011: LATA-Bay West Awarded Contract for Second Atlas Missile Site Remediation.
Under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Kansas City District Pre-placed Remedial Action Contract (PRAC), LATA-Bay West will serve as the environmental remediation contractor at the Schilling Air Force Base S-5 former Atlas missile site in McPherson, KS. This is the second Atlas Missile Site remediation project to be performed by LATA for the Kansas City District.
In early 2011, LATA completed field construction for the remediation of the Former Forbes Atlas Missile Site S-7, in Wamego, KS. Under the Forbes contract, LATA reduced concentrations of TCE and other chlorinated VOCs in groundwater to below cleanup criteria by: (1) removing and replacing a transfer pipeline from the main sump to the sediment trap, (2) installing a soil vapor extraction system to remove contaminant mass from the unsaturated zone within the source area, (3) performing an in-situ chemical oxidation remedy to treat contaminant mass in the groundwater, and (4) implementing a monitored natural attenuation program to observe natural remediation in the remainder of the off-site groundwater plume.
Under the Schilling task order, LATA-Bay West will provide geological investigation, engineering, well installation, in-situ bioremediation, soil vapor extraction, construction services, and long term environmental monitoring to remediate contamination from the site soils and groundwater. The contract period of performance runs through July 2016. For background on the history of the Atlas Missile Program visit http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/.
August 2011: Department of Energy’s Paducah Site Reaches Safety Milestone.
On August 8, 2001 the U.S. Department of Energy’s Paducah Site reached a major safety milestone in its progress toward completing cleanup objectives. LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky Team, the Department’s prime contractor, exceeded 750,000 hours without a lost workday case. The milestone exemplifies excellence in Conduct of Operations and Integrated Safety Management. The safety milestone is especially significant because American Recovery and Reinvestment Act crews – who were previously inexperienced with unique hazards found at nuclear facilities – worked daily in inactive, contaminated buildings. Before starting work, Recovery Act personnel received training in hazardous materials handling, hazard communication, regulatory compliance, safety systems, using self-protective gear, emergency response, and operating mobile equipment. In addition, mobile cranes and robotic machinery were used to enhance safety while expediting cleanup.
April 2010: DOE Awards Small Business Contract for Environmental Remediation Project at the Paducah Site to LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky.
On April 22, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a small-business contract to LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky, LLC to continue the environmental remediation project at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky. Following a 90-day transition period, LATA will assume responsibility for the remediation contract on or about July 21, 2010. LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky, LLC is managed by Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc.
Los Alamos Technical Associates President Robert Kingsbury said: “We are honored to be selected as the next Paducah site remediation contractor and will bring to Paducah the successful programs, approaches, and attention to safety and conduct of operations that has earned DOE considerable success over the last six years at Portsmouth.”
Under the five-year contract, LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky, LLC will be responsible for completing:
- Groundwater removal and treatment
- Containment of the site’s burial ground materials
- Inactive facilities disposition
- Surface soil removal, treatment, and containment
- Surface water treatment and sediment removal
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) disposal
- Environmental monitoring and reporting
- Waste disposal and project support
The Paducah site is a DOE-managed, contractor-operated, environmental remediation project located on a federal reservation in Western Kentucky. The site is approximately eight miles west of Paducah, and 3.5 miles south of the Ohio River.
April 2010: LATA-Sharp Remediation Services Wins K-33 Demolition Project
On April 6, 2010, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) issued a task order to LATA-Sharp Remediation Services, LLC (LSRS) for demolition and disposition of Building K-33, located in the Oak Ridge Reservation’s East Tennessee Technology Park. Building K-33 measures 1,450 ft. X 970 ft. X 82 ft. and has approximately 64 acres of floor space on two levels. All Uranium Enrichment process equipment and associated equipment were removed from the facility in a previous decontamination and decommissioning project more than ten years ago. LSRS will demolish the facility above the ground floor slab level and will size and dispose of the demolition waste at an onsite waste disposal facility. LSRS is teamed with Fluor Federal Services, Inc, EnergySolutions, Tetra Tech, and Claiborne Hauling for the execution of this highly visible and important task for the DOE. The project will be performed with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
February 2010: Dr. Linda Bauer Named LATA/Parallax Project Manager
Dr. Linda Bauer has assumed the position of Project Manager for LATA/Parallax Portsmouth (LPP), the LATA affiliate responsible
for performing environmental remediation work at DOE’s Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Dr. Bauer replaces Bill Franz, who served
as Project Manager since October 2008 and is returning to LATA to lead initiatives for further ventures in cleanup management for DOE.
Dr. Bauer brings over 20 years of professional experience in the management, operation, restoration and decommissioning of facilities
within the DOE complex and commercial nuclear sites. As Senior Vice President for Nuclear Operations with LATA since September 2009,
Dr. Bauer served as the Uranium Disposition Services Commissioning Manager for the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Project,
preparing for start-up of the conversion facilities at the Piketon, OH and Paducah, KY locations. She previously served in various
senior management roles for BWXT Services, Inc. (now B&W Technical Services Group) with experience at the DOE facilities in Oak Ridge,
TN; Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC; Nevada Test Site; and the Mound Plant in Miamisburg, OH. Dr. Bauer received a Bachelor of Science
degree in chemistry from Memphis State University. She earned her Masters degree in health physics and a Ph.D. in environmental health
physics from Purdue University.February 2010: LATA Receives Three Major Contract Awards
Building on its past success with its government clients, LATA recently received three major contracts.
- In January 2010, LATA was awarded a significant task order under its Long Term Response Action (LTRA) contract with the Kansa City District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Task Order covers the design, construction and operation of a remedial program at a former Atlas Missile site in WamegoKansas. The work includes source removal, In-Situ Chemical Oxidation, Soil Vapor Extraction and Monitored Natural Attenuation of TCE contamination in both soil and groundwater.
- Also in January 2010, LATA received Notice to Proceed for the Metra Global Positioning System (GPS) Train Location System Upgrade. Under this contract, LATA will finalize and obtain approval of our design, develop software, procure hardware, support the installation, provide training to conductors and headquarters personnel, and maintain the new GPS train location system that will be installed in 1,300 rail cars and at Metra's downtown
- In February 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued to LATA a Remedial Action Contract (RAC2) for Region 2: the New York / New Jersey area, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As a RAC2 contractor, LATA will provide environmental and engineering services to support EPA’s remedial planning and oversight activities.
November 2009: LATA/Parallax Portsmouth Employees Surpass 1,000 Consecutive Days Without a Lost Work Day Incident
LATA/Parallax Portsmouth, LLC (LPP) achieved another safety milestone at DOE’s Portsmouth site, marking 1,000 consecutive days without a lost work day incident. Employees have surpassed more than 1.3 million safe work hours on the environmental cleanup project in Piketon, Ohio. LPP’s scope encompasses the environmental remediation of groundwater contamination areas, monitoring and reporting of environmental compliance, and disposition of radioactive low-level and mixed hazardous / radiological waste, and decontamination and decommissioning of inactive facilities. This achievement is especially significant considering LPP’s acceleration of Portsmouth work under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The ARRA projects include three major decontamination and decommissioning projects: a 21-acre electrical switchyard, an 18-acre cooling tower complex, and an 8,000 ft2 chemical engineering building, all to be completed by June 2010. Other accelerated projects include disposition of excess uranium materials and excavation and treatment of a challenging tricholoroethene contaminated groundwater plume at the site. LPP attributes its safety success to its employees' questioning attitudes and active involvement in our safety programs.
Nearly 400 jobs are expected to be saved or created by September 2011 on Portsmouth projects funded under the Recovery Act.
June 2009: LATA Named DOE's 2008 SDVOSB of the Year.
LATA received the Department of Energy’s Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year Award for 2008. This award
recognized LATA’s efforts and commitment in providing timely
deliverables and quality services, enabling the Department to complete
its important mission of safeguarding our Nation's resources.
January 2009: George Rasmussen to Head LATA’s Energy Management Business
George Rasmussen, PE, has joined LATA as Vice President-Energy Management. He will expand LATA's energy management
and sustainability business through strategic industry partnerships and full integration of LATA core strengths in
electrical engineering and process control and automation with energy management planning, implementation, and operations.
George is a recognized leader in the power industry and has led the development and commercialization of innovative energy
and environmental technologies. Under Mr. Rasmussen’s leadership, LATA’s energy management services will include energy
audits, energy efficiency design, and renewable and sustainability energy system design and operating services.
Mr. Rasmussen was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Pacific Western Technologies, Ltd., responsible for
environmental management, facility management, energy management and sustainability, and IT services. He was formerly
President & Chief Executive Officer of Energy & Environmental Solutions, Inc., where he provided strategic business
planning and marketing leadership to entrepreneurs with innovative high technology products in the power, energy,
environmental, and transportation sectors. Mr. Rasmussen is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a licensed Professional Engineer, a member of the Society of American Military Engineers Academy
of Fellows and the holder of multiple US patents in the energy field.December 2008: LATA’s Hull Receives Department of Justice Certificate of Commendation
| LATA’s Corporate Safety Officer, Bob Hull, was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the US Attorney – District of New Mexico, for service over the past four years supporting the US Attorney’s Office Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – Terrorist Working Group (JTTF-TWG). Mr. Hull was specifically recognized for his support to the Chem/Bio-Security Working Group and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the ATAC. Mr. Hull also received a US Attorney’s Office “challenge coin” in recognition of his outstanding service to law enforcement. |
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September 2008: LATA Awarded First Task Order under the Baltimore MARS Contract
LATA was awarded its first task order under its U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District Multiple Award Radiological Services (MARS) contract. The MARS contract scope includes environmental services focused on sites contaminated with low-level radioactive waste or materials that may have been also impacted by other hazardous waste/substances or possibly spent munitions. The task order is for gamma walkover characterization activities to support the All Hazards Assessment of the SM-1A deactivated nuclear power plant at Fort Greely, Alaska. The task objective is to use a phased approach to identify the chemical, radiological, and other hazards that exist at the SM-1A and to reduce those hazards, or exposure to those hazards, to the extent that will allow the SM-1A Army Reactor Permit to be terminated. The task is scheduled to be completed in September 2009.
August 2008: LATA-Parallax Portsmouth Participates in Public Meeting
A Public Meeting was held Thursday, August 14, 2008, at The Ohio State University Endeavor Center in Piketon, Ohio to update the public on progress of the cleanup program at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and to introduce members of the newly-formed Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board for the Portsmouth site. Officials from the U.S. Department of Energy and contractors at the site presented information and fielded questions from a large crowd in attendance. To view the slide presentation from the meeting, visit http://www.lpports.com.
June 2008: LATA/Parallax Portsmouth Achieves Safety Milestone
Employees of LATA/Parallax Portsmouth LLC reached another significant safety milestone in June 2008, marking 500 consecutive days without a lost work day incident. The company has amassed more than half a million safe work hours on the environmental cleanup project at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. LATA/Parallax, their teaming partner CDM, along with subcontractor employees, were recognized for working more than 602,000 hours safely on the project. Other major accomplishments by LATA/Parallax at the Piketon site include:
- Demolishing and disposing of waste debris from 16 surplus, inactive facilities
- Shipping for off-site disposal more than 10,000 containers of legacy waste since
- October 2005 to allow reuse by USEC’s advanced commercial centrifuge program
- Implementing a more effective groundwater treatment to destroy trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination with chemical oxidants at the X-701B groundwater plume
- Completing shipments of 1,383 old centrifuge casings to the Nevada Test Site for disposal
- Completing a project, three years early, to dispose of 438 low-level waste converter shells