Bechtel announced today that Valerie McCain, the late project manager at the Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), was recently named a Top 25 Newsmaker for 2023 by Engineering News-Record magazine. The magazine honored McCain, who passed away after a short illness, for leading the WTP team to achieve key milestones.
“Valerie was highly respected, exemplified our One Hanford spirit, and consistently inspired all who were lucky enough to serve with her,” said Brian Vance, EM Office of River Protection (ORP) and Richland Operations Office manager. “She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for her profound effect on our team and our important work.”
Rick Holmes, Bechtel National Inc. principal vice president and general manager for Waste Treatment Completion Company, accepted the award on McCain’s behalf. The company is a subcontractor to Bechtel, which is designing, building and commissioning the WTP for ORP. “If Valerie was here to accept this award, she would have talked about the people, the partnerships with our customer, other contractors and our Tri-Cities community,” said Holmes. “She would have talked about the pride we have in delivering a project as important as WTP.
”Chosen annually by the editors of Engineering News-Record, the Top 25 Newsmakers are construction industry leaders recognized for positive contributions to their industries and communities.
McCain joined Bechtel in 1990, starting as an environmental scientist and cost engineer, and managed projects such as the Uranium Processing Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the modernization of a 60-year-old aluminum smelter in Canada.
Since joining the WTP team in October 2018, McCain led a team of 2,250 employees in completing all construction for the Hanford Site’s Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program. The team transitioned to commissioning and increasing the commissioning workforce to prepare for a shift to 24/7 operations when the plant starts treating radioactive and chemical waste from Hanford’s large underground storage tanks.
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